The Gopher made a great effort, and swallowed so hard that his eyes fairly bulged. Then he said,
"That's an awfully funny one, isn't it?"
"What one?"
"The one next to you."
"Him?" said Tommy, pointing at the ex-Pirate.
"Um," continued the Gopher, nodding his head, for his mouth was full again. "Ain't he?"
"He is a very nice gentleman," remarked Tommy, for lack of anything more definite to say.
"What kind is he?" asked the Gopher.
"He's an ex-Pirate."
"A Pie Rat? Goodness, how he has changed!"