"Dear Si: Though I did not have the heart to say it, Ime"Did you see a star?" inquired the older man."Gosh all Chrismus," said Si, using his most formidable swear-word, for he was very angry. "What was you brats shootin' at? Squirrels or angels? A rebel'd had to be 80 cubits high, like old Haman, for one o' you to've hit him. Lots o' good o' your packin' around guns and cartridges, if you're goin' to waste your ammynition on the malaria in the clouds. Load agin, now, carefully, and when you shoot agin be sure to fetch something. I'll take my ramrod to the next boy that I ketch shootin' higher'n a man's head. This ain't no Fourth-o'-July business. Our job's te kill them whangdoodles over there, and I want you to 'tend strictly to that."
ONE:My God, Fred, I haven't seen such a collection of verbiage since Latin class. Why not say what you mean? People are calling the setup on Fruyling's World slavery, and slavery is a nasty word.
ONE:"All right," assented Si, who had as little taste as his partner for seeming to weaken. "Here goes for a fight or a foot-race.""O, come off, now," said the other impatiently. "Business is business. I haint no time to waste. It's more'n it's worth to me, but I'll make it 0, and agree to be back on this spot to-morrow night with your pass. You can't make 0 as easy any other way."
"I did," answered Shorty.The boys looked at him in amazement, that he should jest at such a momentous time."Good mornin', Kunnel. When 'd you git down here?" said a voice at his elbow.Billings tried to assume a cheerfully-genial air as he entered the General's office, but the grin faded at the sight of the General's stern countenance.
