"Of course," he said, "as far as that
goes, if Johnny does turn up she ought to learn a thing or two, while
he's moving the dining-room up the house"; and he decided to welcome
Johnny on his return.
He had not long to wait, for in a day or two Johnny rode into the
homestead, followed by a black boy carrying a cross-cut saw. This time he
hailed us with a cheery:
"NOW we shan't be long."
CHAPTER X
It had taken over six weeks to "get hold of little Johnny "; but as the
Dandy had prophesied, once he started, he "made things hum in no time."
"Now we shan't be long," he said, flourishing a tape measure; and the
Dandy was kept busy for half a day, "wrestling with the calculating."
That finished, the store was turned inside out and a couple of "boys"
sent in for "things needed," and after them more "boys" for more things;
and then other "boys" for other things, until travellers must have
thought the camp blacks had entered into a walking competition. When
everything necessary was ordered, "all hands" were put on to sharpen saws
and tools, and the homestead shrieked and groaned all day with harsh,
discordant raspings.
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