“Where in Billy-be-blamed are you going, you human trolley car?” he spluttered, sprinting along beside Skjarsen. “What do you mean by breaking up a game in the middle and vamoosing with the ball? Do you think we’re going to win this game on mileage? Turn around, you chump, and climb into this car.”
Ole looked around him sadly. He kept on running as he did. “Aye ent care to stop,” he said. “Aye kent suit you, Master Bost. You tal me Aye skoll du a teng, den you cuss me for duing et. You tal me not to du a teng and you cuss me some more den. Aye tenk I yust keep on a-running, lak yu tal me tu last night. Et ent so hard bein’ cussed ven yu ban running.”
“I tell you to stop, you potato-top,” gasped Bost. By this time he was fifteen yards behind and losing at every step. He had wasted too much breath on oratory. We picked him up in the car and set him alongside of Ole again.
“See here, Ole, I’m tired of this,” he said, sprinting up by him again. “The game’s waiting. Come on back. You’re making a fool of yourself.”
“Eny teng Aye du Aye ban beeg fule,” said Ole gloomily. “Aye yust keep on runnin’. Fallers ent got breath to call me fule ven Aye run. Aye tenk das best vay.”
We picked Bost up again thirty yards behind. Maybe he would have run better if he hadn’t choked so in his conversation. In another minute we landed him abreast of Ole again. He got out and sprinted for the third time. He wabbled as he did it.
“Ole,” he panted, “I’ve been mistaken in you. You are all right, Ole. I never saw a more intelligent fellow. I won’t cuss you any more, Ole. If you’ll stop now we’ll take you back in an automobile—hold on there a minute; can’t you see I’m all out of breath?”
“Aye ban gude faller, den?” asked Ole, letting out another link of speed.
“You are a”—puff-puff—“peach, Ole,” gasped Bost. “I’ll”—puff-puff—“never cuss you again. Please”—puff-puff—“stop! Oh, hang it, I’m all in.” And Bost sat down in the road.
A hundred yards on we noticed Ole slacken speed. “It’s sinking through his skull,” said Harris eagerly. In another minute he had stopped. We picked up Bost again and ran up to him. He surveyed us long and critically.