“Maype you vould not peliefe uf I should toldt you.”
“Oh, go on. Course we will.”
Eagerly the boys gathered near while Carl seemed hesitating, and all urged him to tell what the pail contained. After shaking his head again and again, he repeated: “Maype you vould not peliefe.”
They assured him of their absolute faith in his veracity.
“Tell us quick, or open she comes,” threatened Sile.
“Vale, listen,” said the Dutch boy, with a sigh of resignation. “Didt you efer catch a young gougers?”
“Cougars!” exclaimed Rodney, regarding Carl suspiciously. “Do you mean to say you have young cougars in that pail?”
“Some young gougers hass me in dot pail,” solemnly asserted the fat boy. “It vas not easiness to catch does gougers.”
Crane suppressed a burst of incredulous laughter.
“What sort of a mare’s nest is this?” he scoffed.