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There is no constant succession of customers coming in and out and buying their ounces and half ounces of "Returns," "Bird's Eye," "Shag," and "Old Virginia." Yet an evident perfume of tobacco and prosperity seems to pervade the shop, but no sign of the Tom, Dick, and Henry sort of trade that is done by more ostentatious modern traders.
A cap of rough shag served to hide the upper part of a visage which, like that of a screech owl, seemed desirous to conceal itself from light, the lower part of the face being obscured by a huge red beard, mingling with shaggy locks of the same colour. What features were seen were stern and misanthropical.
The party was just about the right size; two of the little boys who lived at the Pacific coast were asked, then Shorty and Cop and little chunky Johnny Miller and Shag Larocque seven all told, including Hal, and eight, counting the Professor, who, on the first night in camp said, a little gravely, "Hal, my boy, it is a great privilege to be the son of a wealthy man.
"Old Isaac never wrote a truer word than that!" chuckled the colonel. "And now for a little studying." And presently he was beside a quiet stream. Luck was with the colonel and Shag that day, for when they returned to The Haven the creel carried by the colored man squeaked at its willow corners, for it bore a goodly mess of fish.
Why, even among his own kind he is called 'Camous'; and you, who were bred in the Man camps, know what that means." "Of course, of course ha! most surely it means 'a stealer of things. But I meant not to liken you to him, Brother Shag it was only my fright; for even in my dreams I am always seeing the terrible Camous. I have cause to remember him, Shag it was this way. Did I ever tell you?"
Besides, it is so long since I have been at home, that I don't altogether fancy going there till I settle there for good. 'Ah! it will be sad going there at first. 'And it has not been my duty yet. 'But you will be glad when you get there? 'Sha'n't I? I wonder if any one has been to shoot the rabbits on the shag rock. They must have quite overrun it by this time.
It's getting more and more tangled every minute, and the fish are biting well. Hang it all, Shag, why did you let me take up this golf course mystery?" "I didn't do it, Colonel, no, sah!" "What's the use of talking that way, Shag! You know you did!" "Yes, sah, Colonel. Dat's whut I did!" confessed Shag with a grin. When the colonel was in this mood there was nothing for it but to agree with him.
You don't mean to tell me, he's killed, do you?" "No, sah, Colonel! Dat Mr. Phut ain't killed. It's his partner. He's got a funny name, too. Heah, I done brought yo' a paper," and Shag pulled out an extra from under his vest, where he had carefully kept it concealed until he had made sure of his master's frame of mind. The colonel scanned the front page with its black type eagerly.
Then he fell asleep; but Shag did not remove his hand, although the boy slept for hours.
I made no scruples, but forthwith arrayed myself in the slops contained in the bundle; in a pair of shag trowsers, red flannel shirt, coarse blue cloth jacket, and no waistcoat. "Now," said Mr Treenail, "stick a quid of tobacco in your cheek, and take the cockade out of your hat; or stop, leave it, and ship this striped woollen night cap so and come along with me."
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