She could see him plainly, and she thought that he seemed perfectly healthy, and as happy as a boy could be.

She was right.
"What DID you put in it ?" Sam insisted.
And probably it was just as well that, though Mrs.Schofield could see her son, the distance was too great for her to hear him.
"Oh, nothin'," Penrod replied.

"Nothin' but a little good ole mud.".