? ? ? ? "Not now- have it for breakfast, have it for breakfast! Cut loose and let her slide!"
? ? ? ? So, in two seconds, away we went, a sliding down the river, and it did seem so good to be free again and all by ourselves on the big river and nobody to bother us. I had to skip around a bit, and jump up and crack my heels a few times, I couldn't help it; but about the third crack, I noticed a sound that I knowed mighty well- and held my breath and listened and waited- and sure enough, when the next flash busted out over the water, here they come!- and just a laying to their oars and making their skiff hum! It was the king and the duke.
? ? ? ? So I wilted right down onto the planks, then, and give up; and it was all I could do to keep from crying.
? ? ? ? When they got aboard, the king went for me, and shook me by the collar, and says:
? ? ? ? "Tryin' to give us the slip, was ye, you pup! Tired of our company- hey?"
? ? ? ? I says:
? ? ? ? "No, your majesty, we warn't- please don't, your majesty!"
? ? ? ? "Quick, then, and tell us what was your idea, or I'll shake the insides out o' you!"
? ? ? ? "Honest, I'll tell you everything, just as it happened, your majesty.
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