His eyes opened wide, and he pointed at Herman's legs.
"Wha' ma' oo?
Mammy hay oo hip ap hoe-woob." "Mammy tell ME git 'at stove-wood ?" Herman interpreted resentfully.
"How'm I go' git 'at stove-wood when my britches down bottom 'at cistern, I like you answer ME please?
You shet 'at do' behime you!" Verman complied, and again pointing to his brother's legs, requested to be enlightened.
"Sin' I tole you once they down bottom 'at cistern," Herman shouted, much exasperated.

"You wan' know how come so, you ast Sam Williams.

He say thishere cat tuck an' th'owed 'em down there!" Sam, who was busy rocking the cage, remained cheerfully absorbed in that occupation.
"Come look at our good ole panther, Verman," he called.

"I'll get this circus-cage rockin' right good, an' then--" "Wait a minute," said Penrod; "I got sumpthing I got to think about.
Quit rockin' it! I guess I got a right to think about sumpthing without havin' to go deaf, haven't I ?" Having obtained the quiet so plaintively requested, he knit his brow and gazed intently upon Verman, then upon Herman, then upon Gipsy.

Evidently his idea was fermenting.