vely.
"I got to think how we're goin' to fix our cage up right, and you make
so much noise I can't get my mind on it. Anyways, didn't I give you that
little saw?"

"Li'l saw!" Herman cried, unmollified. "Yes; an' thishere li'l saw go'
do me lot o' good when I got to go home!"

"Why, it's only across the alley to your house, Herman!" said Sam. "That
ain't anything at all to step over there, and you've got your little
saw."

"Aw right! You jes' take off you' closes an' step 'cross the alley,"
said Herman bitterly. "I give you li'l saw to carry!"

Penrod had begun to work upon the cage.

"Now listen here, Herman," he said: "if you'll quit talkin' so much, and
kind of get settled down or sumpthing, and help us fix a good cage for
our panther, well, when mamma comes home about five o'clock, I'll go and
tell her there's a poor boy got his britches burned up in a fire,
and how he's waitin' out in the stable for some, and I'll tell her I
promised him. Well, she'll give me a pair I wore for summer; honest she
will, and you can put 'em on as quick as anything."

"There, Herman," said Sam; "now you're all right again!"

"WHO all right?" Herman complained. "I like feel sump'm' roun' my laigs
befo' no five o'clock!"

"Well, you're sure to get 'em by then," Penrod promised. "It ain't
winter yet, Herman. Come on and help saw these laths for the bars,
Herman, and Sam and I'll nail 'em on. It ain't long till five o'clock,
Herman, and then you'll just feel fine!"

Herman was not convinced; but he found himself at a disadvantage in the
argument. The question at issue seemed a vital one to him--and yet his
two opponents evidently considered it of minor importance. Obviously,
they felt that the promise for five o'clock had settled the whole matter
conclusively; but to Herman this did not appear to be the fact. However,
he helplessly suffered himself to be cajoled back into carpentry, though
he was extremely ill at ease and talked a great deal of his misfortune.
He shivered and grumbled, and, by his passionate urgings, compelled
Penrod to go into the house so many times to see what time it was by the
kitchen clock that both his companions almost lost patience with him.

"There!" said Penrod, returning from performing this errand for the
fourth time. "It's twenty minutes after three, and I'm not goin' in
to look at that ole clock again if I haf to die for it! I never heard
anybody make such a fuss in my life, and I'm gettin' tired