"Always glad to oblige." The consultation seemed about to end, but even at the door of the little room Dave paused to acquaint them with other interesting facts about life.

He informed them that we are all brothers of the earth, being composed of carbon and a few other elements, and grow from it as do the trees; that we are but super-vegetables.

He further instructed them as to the constitution of a balanced diet--protein for building, starches or sugar for energy, and fats for heating and also for their vitamine content.
The Whipples, it is to be feared, were now inattentive.

They appeared to listen, but they were merely surveying with acute interest the now revealed lower half of Dave Cowan.

The trousers were frayed, the shoes were but wraiths of shoes.