"Then I laughed more than ever and told him to come back to the shanty,
but he wouldn't. He swore he'd never come back again while Lobelia
'Ankins was there.

"'That's it,' says he, 'larf at a feller critter's sufferings. I honly
wish she'd try to kiss you once, that's all!'

"Well, I couldn't make him budge, so I decided to go back and get the
lay of the land. Lobelia was busy inside the shanty when I got there
and looking black as a thundercloud, so I judged 'twa'n't best to say
nothing to her, and I went down and finished the job on the schooner. At
night, when I come in to suppers she met me at the door. She had a big
stick in her hand and looked savage. I was a little nervous.

"'Now, Lobelia 'Ankins,' says I, 'put down that and be sociable, there's
a good girl.'

"'Course I knew she couldn't understand me, but I was whistling to keep
my courage up, as the saying is.

"''Ammond!' says she, p'inting toward the woods.

"'Yes,' says I, 'Hammond's taking a walk for his health.'

"''Ammond!' says she, louder, and shaking the stick.

"'Now, Lobelia,' says I, smiling smooth as butter, 'do put down that
club!'