Then they opened the bag and passed
the sandwiches.
"I really am hungry," said the weary Thread Man, biting into his
with great relish. His jaws moved once or twice experimentally,
and then he lifted his handkerchief to his lips.
"I wish 'twas as big as me head," said Jimmy, taking a great
bite, and then he began to curse uproariously.
"What ails the things?" inquired Dannie, ejecting a mouthful. And
then all of them began to spit birdshot, and started an inquest
simultaneously. Jimmy raged. He swore some enemy had secured the
bag and mined the feast; but the boys who knew him laughed until
it seemed the Thread Man must suspect. He indignantly declared it
was a dirty trick. By the light of the fire he knelt and tried
to free one of the sandwiches from its sprinkling of birdshot, so
that it would be fit for poor Jimmy, who had worked so hard to
lead them there and tree the coon. For the first time Jimmy
looked thoughtful.
But the sight of the Thread Man was too much for him, and a
second later he was thrusting an ax into the hands accustomed to
handling a thread case. Then he led the way to the tree, and
began chopping at the green hickory. It was slow work, and soon
the perspiration streamed. Jimmy pulled off his coat and threw it
aside.
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