"We have arrived in good order, let's interview the----"
Just then rushed forth from the door the old man of the place, who halted outside and snatched from its rack on the wall a long tin horn, which he proceeded to blow vigorously, the echoes prowling through the woods and over the foot-hills and scampering far away up and down the valley.
Not a soul present ever could forget that sketch, the old man with his shrunken legs bent and wide apart, his arms akimbo as he leaned far back and held up that wailing, howling, bellowing horn, and his long coat-tail almost touching the ground, whilst his fantastic hat quivered in unison with the strain he was blowing. How his shriveled cheeks puffed out, and how his eyes appeared to be starting from their bony sockets!
"That is what I call a fitting reception," said Cattleton, gazing at the trumpeter.
"See here," exclaimed Crane with evident excitement, "I smell whisky! This----"
"Hyer! what d'ye mean hyer, you all a comin' down hyer?" broke forth a wrathful voice, and Wesley Tolliver rushed with melodramatic fierceness upon the scene.
"Oh! I--I--wa--want to g--go home!" cried little Mrs. Philpot, clutching Bartley Hubbard's arm.
"So do I," said he with phlegmatic cleverness. "I should like to see my mother. I'm feeling a little lonely and----"
"What upon yearth do this yer mean, anyhow?" thundered Tolliver. "Who invited you all down yer, tell me thet, will ye?"
"Oh, Mr. Tolliver, Mr. Tolliver!" exclaimed Miss Crabb, rushing upon him excitedly, "I'm _so_ glad you are here!"
"Well, I'll ber dorged!" he ejaculated, "you down hyer again! Well, I never seed the like afore in all my born days."
He gazed at first one and then another of the party, and a sudden light flashed into his face.
"Well I'll ber dorged ef ther whole kepoodle of 'em hain't done jest gone and tumbled off'n the mounting an' jest rolled down hyer!"
"You're a very accurate reasoner, my friend," said Cattleton, trying to get his hat into shape. "I think we touched at two or three points as we came down, however."
About this time four or five more mountaineers appeared bearing guns and looking savage.
"Bandits," said Miss Stackpole with a shudder.
"Oh, for heaven's sake, Mr. Hubbard, do t--t--take m--me home!" wailed Mrs. Philpot.