For there was but one book in the Means library, and that, a well-thumbed copy of "Captain Riley's Narrative," had long since lost all freshness.
"I'll be dog-on'd[9]," said Bill, emphatically, "ef I hadn't 'ruther hear the master tell them whoppin' yarns than to go to a circus the best day I ever seed!" Bill could pay no higher compliment.
What Ralph wanted was to make a friend of Bud.

It's a nice thing to have the seventy-four-gun ship on your own side, and the more Hartsook admired the knotted muscles of Bud Means the more he desired to attach him to himself.

So, whenever he struck out a peculiarly brilliant passage, he anxiously watched Bud's eye.

But the young Philistine kept his own counsel.

He listened, but said nothing, and the eyes under his shaggy brows gave no sign.