Cullum, who headed the nocturnal expedition; "she know'd it wa'n't
the regular night, an' she suspicioned sompn, Nance did."
"Sissy didn't," laughed Tobe, complacently. "Sissy is that soft an'
innercent an' mild that a suckin' baby could wrop her aroun' its
finger--much lessen me!"
Bud Hines, in the rear with the others, was in a quiver of excitement. He
stumbled along, shifting Sid Northcutt's rifle from one shoulder to the
other, and listening open-mouthed to Jack Carter's directions. "You know,
Bud," said that young gentleman, gravely, "it ain't every man that gets a
chance to go on a snipe-hunt. And if you've got any grit--"
"I've got plenty of it," interrupted Mr. Hines, vaingloriously. He was,
indeed, inwardly--and outwardly--bursting with pride. "I thought they tuk
me for a plumb fool," he kept saying over and over to himself. "They ain't
never noticed me before 'cepn to make fun of me; an' all at oncet Mr. Tobe
Cullum an' Mr. Newt Pinson ups an' asts me to go on a snipe-hunt, an' even
p'oposes to give me the best place in it. An' I've got Mr. Sid's rifle, an'
Mr. Jack is tellin' of me how! Lord, I wouldn't of believed it of I wa'n't
right here! Won't ma be proud when I write her about it!"
"You've got to whistle all the time," Jack continued, breaking in upon
these blissful reflections; "if you don't, they won't come.
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