"Shut up, Crazy—Hickey is dead right. We want to go in friendly-like, just as though we knew the Doctor would side with us at once—sort of take him into our confidence."
"That's it," said Hickey; "we want to be good-natured at first, lay the matter before him calmly, then afterward we can be firm."
"Rats!" said Crazy; "are we going to tell him, or not, that we represent the Dickinson and the Woodhull and that they have voted the extinction of 'sinkers'?"
"Sure we are!" exclaimed Wash. "You don't think we are afraid, do you?"
"Well, then, let's tell him," said Crazy. "Come on, if you're going to."
They returned resolutely and again entered the dominion of the dreary lamp.
"Say, fellows," Wash suddenly interjected, "are we going to say anything about 'scrag-birds'?"
"Sure," said Crazy.
"The deuce we are!" said Hickey.
"Why not?" said Crazy, militantly.