lickitty split. Jerushy Jane Pepper! jes' luk comin' down a
greased pole. Come near tekin' my breath away--did sart'n. Went
out o' thet air thing luk a bullet eggzac'ly. Shot int' the air
feet foremust. Purty fair slidin' up in the air 'most anywheres,
ye know. Alwus come down by the nighest way. 'T was darker 'n
pitch; could n't see a thing, nut a thing. Hearn Ray come out o'
the box 'bove me. Then I come down k'slap in th' water 'n' sunk.
Thought I 'd never stop goin' down. 'Fore I come up I hearn Ray
rip int' th' water nigh me. I come up 'n' shook my head, 'n'
waited. Judas Priest! thought he wus drownded, sart'n. Seemed so
I 'd bust out 'n' cry there 'n th' water waitin' fer thet air boy.
Soon es I hearn a flop I hed my han's on 'im.

"'Who be you?' says he.

"'D'ri,' says I.

"'Tired out,' says he; 'can't swim a stroke. Guess I 'll hev t' go
t' th' bottom.'"




XV

D'ri's narrative was the talk of the garrison. Those who heard the
telling, as I did not, were fond of quoting its odd phrases, and of
describing how D'ri would thrust and parry with his jack-knife in
the story of the bouts.