"Bears, wildcats—"
"And," continued Nat, resuming all his old-time aggressive and sarcastic manner, "I want to know if you fellows think for an instant that I—"
"We think that you are getting worked up over nothing," interrupted Travers.
"And I'll get more worked up. If your old wash-tub was put out of commission, you can't blame it on us. You're a nice lot, I must say."
Doubling his fists, and otherwise exhibiting symptoms of increasing rage, Nat Wingate proceeded: "What do you think of this, anyway, Hacky?"
John, hoping that a first-class row would result, decided to aid in its development as much as possible.
"It looks as if they wanted to insult us," he growled, in his most aggressive manner.
"Maybe the wildcat cut the wires," exclaimed Kirk Talbot. But this piece of pleasantry passed unheeded.
"Did you ever hear of such a thing?" howled Nat, encouraged by his chief lieutenant's attitude. "If you want to stir up the biggest scrap you ever heard of, Sam Randall, just say right out that we did it. Going to say it? I dare you to!"
"That's the way to talk, that's it!" chimed in Hackett, greatly delighted. "Nothing like coming out like a man. I don't want any racket, but we ain't going to stand mean insinuations—and don't you forget it!"