They gazed at him in unwilling admiration of his eloquence. Sam brought them back to the matter in hand.
"It needn't be money," he said. "All we say is we oughter get something for all the trouble an' danger we've took for you. Something to eat would do--something nice an' big."
"Yes, an' how am I to _get_ it?" demanded William, indignantly. "D'you want me to _starve?_ D'you think my folks would look on an' watch me starve to death givin' my food to you?--jus' 'cause you went an' put an ole scarecrow in someone's garden? D'you think that's a good reason for one person to starve to death, 'cause another person put a scarecrow in another person's garden?"
They were aware that in rhetoric William soared far beyond them.
"Well, we'll go home with you," said Sam, ignoring the argument.
"Either you jus' give us something nice an' big to eat or we'll tell your father."
William, though rather pale, laughed scornfully.
"Yes, you jus' come home with me," he said. "I guess you've not seen our dog, have you? Nearly as big as a horse. I guess there won't be much of you left when our dog sees you. Huh!"
With what was meant to be a sinister laugh he turned on his heel and strolled off. With sinking heart he saw that they were accompanying him, Leopold and his projecting teeth walking by his side, Sam and Albert behind. With a slight swagger and humming airily to himself, but with apprehension at his heart, William slowly wended his homeward way.
At the gate stood Jumble, his dog, small and friendly and rapturously glad to see them all. Jumble was no snob. Having assured William of his lifelong devotion and ecstatic joy at seeing him again, he went on to extend a tempestuous welcome to Sam, Albert and Leopold. William looked at him with affectionate sorrow. Though he adored Jumble, he thought he'd ask for a bloodhound for his next birthday present--a really savage one that would recognise his enemies at a glance. He walked, still with his careless swagger, but with his heart sinking lower at every step, round to the side door. Sam, Albert and Leopold still accompanied him.
"Now," whispered Sam. "You go and get us something real slap-up to eat, or we'll tell your father what you made us do."