Chapter VI. The Aunts and Uncles Are Coming

verpaid,isnotoriouslylikelytoremainunrecognised(perhapsbecauseitisseensoseldom). “Iknowthechapasownstheferrets,”saidBob,inahoarsetreblevoice,asheshuffledalong,keepinghisblueeyesfixedontheriver,likeanamphibiousanimalwhoforesawoccasionfordartingin.“HelivesuptheKennelYardatSutOgg’s,hedoes.He’sthebiggestrot-catcheranywhere,heis.I’dsooner,bearot-catchernoranything,Iwould.Themolesisnothingtotherots.ButLors!youmunha’ferrets.Dogsisnogood.Why,there’sthatdog,now!”Bobcontinued,pointingwithanairofdisgusttowardYap,“he’snomoregoodwi’arotnornothin’.Iseeitmyself,Idid,attherot-catchin’i’yourfeyther’sbarn.” Yap,feelingthewitheringinfluenceofthisscorn,tuckedhistailinandshrankclosetoTom’sleg,whofeltalittlehurtforhim,buthadnotthesuperhumancouragetoseembehindhandwithBobincontemptforadogwhomadesopoorafigure. “No,no,”hesaid,“Yap’snogoodatsport.I’llhaveregulargooddogsforratsandeverything,whenI’vedoneschool.” “Hevferrets,MeasterTom,”saidBob,eagerly,—“themwhiteferretswi’pinkeyesLors,youmightcatchyourownrots,an’youmightputarotinacagewi’aferret,an’see’emfight,youmight.That’swhatI’ddo,Iknow,an’it’udbebetterfuna’mostnorseein’twochapsfight,—ifitwasn’tthemchapsassoldcakesan’orangesattheFair,asthethingsflewouto’theirbaskets,an’someo’thecakeswassmashed—Buttheytastedjustasgood,”addedBob,bywayofnoteoraddendum,afteramoment’spause. “But,Isay,Bob,”saidTom,inatoneofdeliberation,“ferretsarenastybitingthings,—they’llbiteafellowwithoutbeingseton.” “Lors!whythat’sthebeautyon’em.Ifachaplaysholdo’yourferret,hewon’tbelongbeforehehollowsoutagoodun,hewon’t.” Atthismomentastrikingincidentmadetheboyspausesuddenlyintheirwalk.Itwastheplungingofsomesmallbodyinthewaterfromamongtheneighbouringbulrushesifitwasnotawater-rat,Bobintimatedthathewasreadytoundergothemostunpleasantconsequences. “Hoigh!Yap,—hoigh!thereheis,”saidTom,clappinghishands,asthelittleblacksnoutmadeitsarrowycoursetotheoppositebank.“Seizehim,lad!seizehim!” Yapagitatedhisearsandwrinkledhisbrows,butdeclinedtoplunge,tryingwhetherbarkingwouldnotanswerthepurposejustaswell. “Ugh!youcoward!”saidTom,andkickedhimover,feelinghumiliatedasasportsmantopossesssopoor-spiritedananimal.Bobabstainedfromremarkandpassedon,choosing,however,towalkintheshallowedgeoftheoverflowingriverbywayofchange. “He’snonesofullnow,theFlossisn’t,”saidBob,ashekickedthewaterupbeforehim,withanagreeablesenseofbeinginsolenttoit.“Why,last’ear,themeadowswasallonesheeto’water,theywas.” “Ay,but,”saidTom,whosemindwaspronetoseeanoppositionbetweenstatementsthatwerereallyaccordant,—“buttherewasabigfloodonce,whentheRoundPoolwasmade.Iknowtherewas,’causefathersaysso.Andthesheepandcowsalldrowned,andtheboatswentalloverthefieldseversuchaway.” “Idon’tcareaboutafloodcomin’,”saidBob“Idon’tmindthewater,nomorenortheland.I’dswim,Iwould.” “Ah,butifyougotnothingtoeatforeversolong?”saidTom,hisimaginationbecomingquiteactiveunderthestimulusofthatdread.“WhenI’maman,Ishallmakeaboatwithawoodenhouseonthetopofit,likeNoah’sark,andkeepplentytoeatinit,—rabbitsandthings,—allready.Andthenifthefloodcame,youknow,Bob,Ishouldn’tmind.AndI’dtakeyouin,ifIsawyouswimming,”headded,inthetoneofabenevolentpatron. “Iaren’tfrighted,”saidBob,towhomhungerdidnotappearsoappalling.“ButI’dgetinan’knocktherabbitsonth’headwhenyouwantedtoeat’em.” “Ah,andIshouldhavehalfpence,andwe’dplayatheads-and-tails,”saidTom,notcontemplatingthepossibilitythatthisrecreationmighthavefewercharmsforhismatureage.“I’ddividefairtobeginwith,andthenwe’dseewho’dwin.” “I’vegotahalfpennyo’myown,”saidBob,proudly,comingoutofthewaterandtossinghishalfpennyintheair.“Yeadsortails?” “Tails,”saidTom,instantlyfiredwiththedesiretowin. “It’syeads,”saidBob,hastily,snatchingupthehalfpennyasitfell. “Itwasn’t,”saidTom,loudlyandperemptorily.“YougivemethehalfpennyI’vewonitfair.” “Isha’n’t,”saidBob,holdingittightinhispocket. “ThenI’llmakeyouseeifIdon’t,”saidTom. “Youcan’tmakemedonothing,youcan’t,”saidBob. “Yes,Ican.” “No,youcan’t.” “I’mmaster.” “Idon’tcareforyou.” “ButI’llmakeyoucare,youcheat,”saidTom,collaringBobandshakinghim. “Yougetoutwi’you,”saidBob,givingTomakick. Tom’