"Smooth him down, Harry," cried Sunburst. "Here, Sawnie, how much will you take for your pipes?"
"Enough to buy me them back again," answered the Scotchman, cannily, "and a bonus for the time o' their privation."
"You'll do," said Idler.
"Have another nip of the whey and let's hear you drown the dago," whispered Harry, confidentially, patting Logan on the back.
"Drown him? 'Twad na tak' a big puddle to do that."
"Of course not. But he's vain enough to think just the opposite. A good swig! Start her up now."
Idler drummed on the piano a few bars of "Scots Wha Ha'e," which set the piper marching and stamping again. At a nod from Harry the bowing Italian resumed his tune, and when the four carousers took hands in a circle and began chanting "Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot," the air was infernal with discord.
"Faster! Faster!" cried Harry. The Scotchman pranced in his industrious ecstasy, while the Italian put both hands to the organ-crank and turned for all that was in him.
"Oh, a smile for my Rosalie!" shouted Kennedy, maliciously, changing the air.
"None of that!" cried Harry, barely making his voice heard above the din. The little boy sitting in one corner had clapped both palms over his ears, and the monkey, watching his gesture, gravely climbed up and perched beside him, doing likewise.