But before the laugh had finished, the indignant Gottlieb had knocked Bill Day over and sent Norman after him.

The blow sobered them a little, and suddenly destroyed Bill's ambition to commit "arsony," or do anything else ludikerous.

But Norman was furious, and under his lead Wehle's arms were now bound with the rope and a consultation was held, during which little Wilhelmina pleaded for her father effectively, and more by her tears and cries and the wringing of her chubby hands than by any words.
Bill Day said he be blamed of that little Dutch gal's takin' on so didn't kinder make him foul sorter scrimpshous you know.

But the mob could not quit without doing something.

So it was resolved to give Gottlieb a good ducking in the river and send him into Kentucky with a warning not to come back.