I guess Perez
wouldn't be grinnin that ar way ef he callated we wuz gonter be all
chawed up afore mornin."
"Reuben tells the truth. They are going to attack us in the morning,"
said Perez, looking up. Abner stared at him a moment, and then
demanded half-sullen, half-puzzled:
"Wal, Cap'n, wat dew ye see tew larf at in that? Derned ef I see
nothin funny."
"Your glum mug would be enough to laugh at if there was nothing else
Abner," said Perez, getting up and gayly slapping the giant on the
shoulder.
"I s'pose ye must hev got some plan in yer head fer gittin the best on
em," suggested Abner, at last, evidently racking his brains to suggest
a hypothesis to explain his commander's untimely levity.
"No, Abner," replied Perez, "I have not thought of any plan yet. What
do you think about the business?"
"I'm afeard thar ain't no dependin on the men fer a scrimmage. I
callate they'll scatter ez soon's the news gits raound that the white
feathers be comin, 'thout even waitin fer em tew git in sight," was
Abner's gloomy response.
"I shouldn't be at all surprised if they did. I don't believe there's
a dozen in the lot we could depend on," said Perez cheerfully.
"Wat's the matter with ye, Cap'n," burst out Abner, in desperation.
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