“It vas a mare’s nest not,” snapped Carl; “it vas a gouger’s nest. I seen dot nest yesterday der voods in, but when it vas daylights dose gougers vill pite, undt I avay kept. Vhen it dark got I up crept undt der gougers caught. I haf them der pail in. Yah.”
“Tell it to Sus-Sweeney,” jeered Springer.
“Sweeney didt not know me,” answered Carl soberly, “undt so he couldt not tell it to me. You didt consist to know vot vas der pail in, undt now you haf out found.”
“Who do yeou s’pose is goin’ to believe such ridiculous stuff?” demanded Crane.
“I couldt not help him,” asserted Carl sadly, “uf it didt not peliefe you.”
“Take off that strap. Take off the kiver and let us see.”
“I vould not do dot uf one thousand tollars vould gif you to me!” excitedly cried the fat boy. “Money couldt not inducement me. Der minute dot cofer peen off took der gougers vould out pop.”
“Aw, say, that’s silly. Yeou jest watch me take it off.”
Duckelstein grabbed at Sile’s arm.
“You vill avay let my gougers get!” he shouted frantically. “It vas not right vhen so much troubles has made me to catch them.”