and Strout and covering them from sight.

When all had struggled to their feet, Ezekiel turned to Mandy and said
sharply, "What were you doin' up there, Mandy?"

"Looking for eggs," said she, as she ran out of the barn and started for
the house.

Hiram stood with his mouth distended with a huge smile. Strout turned
towards him and said savagely, "Well, if you're the only egg she got,
'twas a mighty bad one."

Hiram retorted, "I would rather be called a bad egg than somethin' I
heard about you."

Strout, in a passion, cried out, "Who said anything about me?"

Hiram made for the barn door and then said, "heard a gentleman say as
how there was only one jackass in Eastborough and he taught the singin'
school."

Strout caught up a rake to throw at him, but Hiram was out of sight
before he could carry out his purpose. Turning to Ezekiel, Strout said,
"I bet a dollar, Pettengill, it was that city feller that said that, and
as I have twice remarked and this makes three times, this town ain't big
enough to hold both on us."