What was it ?" Jed suffered in silence for two or three minutes.
"What was the real reason?
Out with it," persisted Captain Hunniwell.
"Well--well, 'twas--'twas--" desperately, "'twas the squeakin' and-- and squealin'." "Squeakin' and squealin'?
Gracious king! What are you talkin' about ?" "Why--the--the mills, you know.

The mills and vanes outside on--on the posts and the fence.

They squeaked and--and sometimes they squealed awful.

And he didn't like it." "Who didn't ?" "Colonel Davidson.

He said they'd got to stop makin' that noise and I said I'd oil 'em every day.