"We went wrigglin' along for a while as still as cats in a milk-house, and the butes stayed where they was. But pretty soon Zeb began to grow uneasy like, and screwed up his ugly nose, like as if he was took with the pangs, and the doctor gone a courtin'.
"'Gheewhillikins!' says he, at last, 'I shan't stand this here much longer, if there is company in the parlor!'
"We all looked at him, and says one feller:
"'I guess, Major, you're took putty bad.'
"Zeb gave his phizog another twist, an' says he:
"'You'd better believe it, squire. I've got corns on them ere feet of mine that'd make a preacher swear, and them butes pinch like all tarnation.'
"I see right off how the smoke was blowin', and says I:
"'Off with 'em, Zeb! We're all in the family, and won't mind you.'
"That was all the old he-one was waitin' fur; and as quick as I said it, he had one of that modest gal's feet in his hand, and twisted off the bute in a twinklin'!! We all see a perfect Wenus of a foot, and a golfired ankle, and then it was jerked away quicker'n a flash, and the critter screamed like a rantankerous tom-cat with his tail under a cheese-knife!
"'Murder!—you nasty thing,' says she, 'give me my bute.'