39. By and by, Bill sits up and feels behind his ear and says: “Sam, do you know who my favorite Biblical character is?”
40. “Take it easy,” says I. “You’ll come to your senses presently.”
Slaughter of the Innocents.
41. “King Herod,” says he. “You won’t go away and leave me here alone, will you, Sam?”
See [¶4].
42. I went out and caught that boy and shook him until his freckles rattled.
Note the use of the incongruous.
43. “If you don’t behave,” says I, “I’ll take you straight home. Now, are you going to be good, or not?”
44. “I was only funning,” says he sullenly. “I didn’t mean to hurt Old Hank. But what did he hit me for? I’ll behave, Snake-eye, if you won’t send me home, and if you’ll let me play the Black Scout to-day.”
45. “I don’t know the game,” says I. “That’s for you and Mr. Bill to decide. He’s your playmate for the day. I’m going away for a while, on business. Now, you come in and make friends with him and say you are sorry for hurting him, or home you go, at once.”