He formed for
Shif'less Sol an inexhaustible and entertaining study in
character.
"I ain't quite seen his like afore," said the shiftless one to
Paul. "First time I run acrost him I thought he would tumble
down among the first bushes he met. 'Stead o' that, he sailed
right through 'em, makin' never a trip an' no noise at all, same
ez Long Jim's teeth sinkin' into a juicy venison steak."
"I've heard tell," said Long Jim, who also contemplated the
prodigy," that big, chunky, awkward-lookin' things are sometimes
ez spry ez you. They say that the Hipperpotamus kin outrun the
giraffe across the sands uv Afriky, an' I know from pussonal
experience that the bigger an' clumsier a b'ar is the faster he
kin make you scoot fur your life. But he's the real Dutch, ain't
he, Paul, one uv them fellers that licked the Spanish under the
Duke uv Alivy an' Belisarry?"
"Undoubtedly," replied Paul, who did not consider it necessary to
correct Long Jim's history, "and I'm willing to predict to you,
Jim Hart, that Heemskerk will be a mighty good man in any fight
that we may have."
Heemskerk rolled up to them. He seemed to have a sort of
circular motion like that of a revolving tube, but he kept pace
with the others, nevertheless, and he showed no signs of
exertion.
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