moughty savage ef I go much over ma dinner time.'

"Golly, boss!" added the porter, "Ah jes' 'bleeged tun say sumpin', an Ah
tells 'em de dinin' kyar'll sho'ly obertake us fo' six-thirty. Ya'as,
indeedy. An' den, dar's dat lady up dar wid de sour-vinegary sort o'
face. Ah jes' heard her say she'd be fo'ced tuh eat her back-comb if she
didn't have her lunch pu'ty soon. A' yo' knows, Mistah Ca'tah, no lady's
indigestion is a-gwine tuh stan' up under no sech fodder as dat."

"You old silly!" ejaculated the conductor. "These people have been
fooling you. I'll separate those two drummers so that they won't eat each
other--or concoct any more stories with which to worry you, Nick. Come
on, young ladies. We'll see about that dog."

"And look through the express matter--do!" begged Nan.

"Surely will," replied the conductor. "But I expect we'll have to tie and
muzzle the express messenger."

Bess thought this funny, too, and she giggled again. In fact, Nan
declared her chum had a bad case of the "giggles" and begged her to
behave herself.

"I don't believe that castaways set out to explore their island for food
in any such light-minded manner as you display, Elizabeth," Nan observed.

"Oh, dear! I can't help it," Bess gasped. "That darkey is so funny. He's
just as innocent as--as--"

"The man, Friday," finished Nan.