Then there's Bluey Batcheldor and Emulous Baker
and 'Gawpy'--I mean Freddie G.--and--"
"There, there! That's quite sufficient, thank you. Do you know
any of those men?" he asked, turning to the workman.
"Yes, sir, I guess I do."
"Very well. Go up and bring two of them here; not more than two,
understand."
Jed's accuser departed. Major Grover resumed his catechizing.
"What were you doing here?" he asked.
"Eh? Me? Oh, I was just picnicin', as you might say, along with a
little girl, daughter of a neighbor of mine. She wanted to see
where the soldiers was goin' to fly, so I borrowed Perez Ryder's
power dory and we came over. 'Twas gettin' along dinner time and I
built a fire so as to cook. . . . My soul!" with a gasp of
consternation, "I forgot all about that chowder. And now it's got
stone cold. Yes, sir!" dropping on his knees and removing the
cover of the kettle, "stone cold or next door to it. Ain't that a
shame!"
Lieutenant Rayburn snorted in disgust. His superior officer,
however, merely smiled.
"Never mind the chowder just now," he said. "So you came over here
for a picnic, did you? Little late for picnics, isnt it?"
"Yes--ye-es," drawled Jed, "'tis kind of late, but 'twas a nice,
moderate day and Babbie she wanted to come, so--"
"Babbie? That's the little girl? . . . Oh," with a nod, "I
remember now.
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