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. He assisted
the Thread Man out of his and tossed it behind him. The coat
alighted in the fire, and was badly scorched before it was rescued.
But the Thread Man was game. Fifty times that night it had been
said that he was to have the first coon, of course he should work
for it.
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