Remember that, Sputterboy." "Yes, sir," said Wilbur.
His father never addressed the Merle twin by any but his rightful name, nor did he ever address the other by the one the dead mother had affixed to him, miscalling him by a number of titles, among which were Sputterboy, Gig, Doctor, and Bill.
Before ascending quite to the Whipple New Place they left the dusty road for a path that led over a lawnlike stretch of upland, starred with buttercups and tiny anemones, and inhabited by a colony of gophers that instantly engaged Frank, the dog, now free of his leash, in futile dashes.

They stood erect, with languidly drooped paws, until he was too near; then they were inexplicably not there.

Frank at length divined that they unfairly achieved these disappearances by descending into caverns beneath the surface of the earth.

At first, with frantic claws and eager squeals, he tore at the entrances to these until the prey appeared at exits farther on, only to repeat the disappearance when dashed at.

Frank presently saw the chase to be hopeless.