never saw you, for they ain't a feather out o' place on you. You
are finer'n a piece o' red satin. An' you got that way o'
swingin' an' dancin' an' high-steppin' right out in God
A'mighty's big woods, a teeterin' in the wind, an' a dartin'
'crost the water. Cage never touched you! But you are somebody's
pet jest the same. An' I look like the man, an' you are tryin'
to tell me so, by gum!"

Leaning toward Abram, the Cardinal turned his head from side to
side, and peered, "chipped," and waited for an answering "Chip"
from a little golden-haired child, but there was no way for the
man to know that.

"It's jest as sure as fate," he said. "You think you know me,
an' you are tryin' to tell me somethin'. Wish to land I knowed
what you want! Are you tryin' to tell me `Howdy'? Well, I don't
'low nobody to be politer 'an I am, so far as I know."

Abram lifted his old hat, and the raindrops glistened on his
white hair. He squared his shoulders and stood very erect.

"Howdy, Mr. Redbird! How d'ye find yerself this evenin'? I
don't jest riccolict ever seein' you before, but I'll never meet
you agin 'thout knowin' you. When d'you arrive? Come through by
the special midnight flyer, did you? Well, you never was more
welcome any place in your life. I'd give a right smart sum this
minnit if you'd say you came to settle on this river bank. How
do you like it? To my mind it's jest as near Paradise as you'll
strike on earth.