Either he's batty or else he's pretendin' to be, one or the other.

Look here, Rube!" he roared at the top of his lungs, "can the cheap talk and answer the lieutenant's questions or you'll get into trouble.

D'ye hear ?" Jed looked up at him.

"I'm pretty nigh sure I should hear if you whispered a little louder," he said, gently.
The young officer drew himself up.

"That's enough of this," he ordered.