“Make up your mind, the performance is over for to-night,” Elmer thrilled them by declaring five minutes afterwards.
“Well, for goodness’ sake, don’t let’s do anything to coax an encore,” begged Amos. “But I can hear the rain coming down still, Elmer.”
“I reckon now that’s just the water dripping from the trees you hear,” he was assured, which turned out to be the case.
They hugged their confined quarters for a short time longer; then Elmer made a move as though meaning to crawl out.
“Come along, boys!” he called; “we’ll feel a heap better to get on our feet, and start the blood to circulating again.”
“You said it, Elmer,” honestly confessed Amos; “why, I’m shaking like I had the ague right now. And I’m not sure but that Wee Willie’s going to fall to pieces soon if he keeps on the way he does, he’s so loosely made up, you know.”
“Oh! I guess not yet awhile,” snapped the one referred to, who however lost no time in creeping out from under the ledge where the wise partridges had taken up their quarters for the night, anticipating a wet time.
No sooner was Elmer on his feet than laying the lantern aside he commenced slapping both arms violently about him, at the same time jumping up and down after the manner of a savage indulging in a dance.
“The only way to get your blood to circulating!” Wee Willie admitted, as he hastened to imitate the others example; and presently there were three dancers hopping about, and making wild gesticulations with their waving arms.
All of them began to feel considerably better, though their breath was soon coming in short pants.