“Hello, Bob,” called the Outlaws.

“Hello, ye young rascals.”

“I say, Bob, make us some boats an’ let’s have a race.”

“Sure an’ I will,” said Bob knocking out his pipe and taking a large penknife out of his pocket, “though it’s wastin’ me time ye are, as usual.”

He took up a piece of wood and began to whittle.

“How’s the squirrel, Bob?”

“Foine.”

“Bob, they’re building in the ivy on the Old Oak again.”

“Shure an’ I knew that before you did, me bhoy.”

But though he whittled and whistled Bob was evidently not his old self.