root and came up like a mushroom, all of its own accord, eh!" 



"Honest, Pudge, I didn't touch you. I had called to you to 

 come look at me when 



I clapped my left hand onto my right, dropping my nine- 

 dollar fishople, reel and all, and wheeled around to glare at 

 Jim. The half-breed was cleaning up the breakfast dishes, his 

 hands immersed in a pan of water. I knew he couldn't have 

 thrown anything at us. A grin was on his face, however, and 

 we suspected him. 



"Jim," I said gravely, "I can enjoy a practical joke as well as 

 anyone and I'll stand for anything within the bounds of rea- 

 son. But if I catch you up to any more of your medicine-man 

 tricks, I'll throw you in the river." 



" 'Smatter with eye?" Jim asked, looking at my swollen 

 optic. 



"That's what I say," I retorted. "What is the matter? Did 

 you throw something?" 



"Huh! No!" Jim replied. "No-seeum git yo'." 



The truth was out. Running loose, right there in those 

 woods were some sort of flying devils, armed with forks, 

 sabres, stilettos and cutlasses, and war had been declared. 



"How can you tell when they're going to call?" I asked of 



"Feel 'em." 



"Don't they say anything, send in a card, remark about the 

 Lther, or do anything of that sort? How can you tell 'em 

 rhen you see 'em?" 



"No-seeum," said Jim bluntly. 



We stood there blindly fighting imaginary spots in the air. 



rery now and then Pudge would let out a howl and clap a 

 land to some part of his head or start suddenly rubbing his 

 wrist. It all became ludicrous. By the time the sun was up 

 good and warm, we were leaning up against trees, our hands 

 in our pockets to keep them from being eaten off or stung off, 

 whichever the No-seeums were up to. 



"I dare you," I said to "Pudge," "to take your hands out of 

 your pockets and go fishing." 



"You go to Texas!" Pudge replied hotly. "I'd give a twenty 

 dollar bill for a bottle of that 'ile' Jim tells about." 



