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Updated: June 8, 2025
He remained in a constraint from which he presently broke with mocking hilarity when Jombateeste came round the corner of the house, as if he had been waiting for Whitwell to be gone, and told Jeff he must get somebody else to look after the horses. "Why don't you wait and take the horses with you, Jombateeste?" he inquired. "They'll be handing in their resignation, the next thing.
His interest in the matter, which he tried to hide at first under a mask of decorous indifference, mounted with the fire of Whitwell's enthusiasm, and they held nightly councils together, studying his course on the map, and consulting planchette upon the points at variance that rose between them, while Jombateeste sat with his chair tilted against the wall, and pulled steadily at his pipe, which mixed its strong fumes with the smell of the kerosene-lamp and the perennial odor of potatoes in the cellar under the low room where the companions forgathered.
This life," he turned to Westover, in solemn exegesis, "is a broken shaft when death comes. It rests upon the earth, but you got to look for the top of it in the skies. That's the way I look at it. What do you think, Jackson? Jombateeste?" "I think anybody can't see that. Better go and get some heye-glass." Westover remained in a shameful minority. He said, meekly: "It suggests a beautiful hope."
"There's one thing I never told Cynthy yet; well, Jombateeste didn't tell me himself till after Jeff was gone; and then, thinks I, what's the use? But I guess you had better know." He leaned forward across the table, and gave Jombateeste's story of the encounter between Jeff and Alan Lynde in the clearing. "Now what do you suppose was the reason Jeff let up on the feller?
He called to him, cheerily: "Hello, John! Any luck?" Jombateeste shook his head. "Nawthing." He hesitated. "What are you after?" "Partridge," Jombateeste ventured back. Jeff could not resist the desire to scoff which always came upon him at sight of the Canuck. "Oh, pshaw! Why don't you go for woodchucks? They fly low, and you can hit them on the wing, if you can't sneak on 'em sitting."
All the guests know how you play on the pitchfork out there, and they'll leave in a body if they hear you've quit. Do say you'll stay, and I'll reduce your wages one-half on the spot." Jombateeste waited to hear no more injuries. He said: "You'll don' got money enough, Mr.
"Here, now," he shouted to Jackson, "you just let this feller and plantchette fight it out together!" "What's the matter with plantchette ?" said Jeff, before he said to his brother, "Hello, Jackson!" and to the Canuck, "Hello, Jombateeste!" He shook hands conventionally with them both, and then with the painter, whom he greeted with greater interest. "Glad to see you here, Mr. Westover.
"Well, I guess you're right there, Jombateeste," said Whitwell, with pleasure in the Canuck's point. After a moment he suggested to Westover: "Then I s'pose, if you feel the way you do, you don't care much about plantchette?" "Oh yes, I do," said the painter. "We never know when we may be upon the point of revelation. I wouldn't miss any chance."
"If I conclude to stay, will you? Jeff's goin' abroad." "I guess I stay," said Jombateeste. "Don't strain yourself, Jombateeste," said Jeff, with malevolent derision. "Not for you, Jeff Dorrgin," returned the Canuck. "I strain myself till I bust, if I want." Jeff sneered to Whitwell: "Well, then, the most important point is settled. Let me know about the minor details as soon as you can."
"I guess I've left 'em in pretty good shape for the winter at Lion's Head," he said. "I've got Whitwell to agree to come up and live in the house with mother, and she'll have Cynthy with her, anyway; and Frank and Jombateeste can look after the bosses easy enough."
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