But the three boys threw themselves on him—"A bit of Willy Wud; just a little bit of Willy Wud," they pleaded.
James Seton was an inspired teller of tales, and Willy Wud was one of his creations. His adventures—and surely no one ever had stranger and more varied adventures—made a sort of serial story for "after tea" on winter evenings.
"Where did we leave him?" he asked, sitting down obediently.
"Don't you remember, Father?" said Buff. "In the Robbers' Cave."
"He was just untying that girl," said Thomas.
"She wasn't a girl," corrected Billy, "she was a princess."
"It's the same thing," said Thomas. "He was untying her when he found the Robber Chief looking at him with a knife in his mouth."
So the story began and ended all too soon for the eager listeners, and Mr. Seton hurried away to his work.
"Say good-night, Thomas and Billy," said Elizabeth, "and run home. It's very nearly bed-time."
"To-morrow's Saturday," said Thomas suggestively.