Now , bring on a rail , there 's a good fellow . I 've got a horrid cramp in my legs , '' began Sam , thinking he had bought help dearly , yet admiring Ben 's cleverness in making the most of his chance . Ben brought the rail , but , just as he was about to lay it from the main-land to the nearest tussock , he stopped , saying , with the naughty twinkle in his black eyes again , `` One more little thing must be settled first , and then I 'll get you ashore . Promise you wo n't plague the girls either , ` specially Bab and Betty . You pull their hair , and they do n't like it . '' `` Do n't neither ! Would n't touch that Bab for a dollar ; she scratches and bites like a mad cat , '' was Sam 's sulky reply . `` Glad of it ; she can take care of herself . Betty ca n't ; and if you touch one of her pig-tails I 'll up and tell right out how I found you snivelling in the ma ` sh like a great baby . So now ! '' and Ben emphasized his threat with a blow of the suspended rail which splashed the water over poor Sam , quenching his last spark of resistance . `` Stop ! I will ! -- I will ! '' `` True as you live and breathe ! '' demanded Ben , sternly binding him by the most solemn oath he knew . `` True as I live and breathe , '' echoed Sam , dolefully relinquishing his favorite pastime of pulling Betty 's braids and asking if she was at home . `` I 'll come over there and crook fingers on the bargain , '' said Ben , settling the rail and running over it to the tuft , then bridging another pool and crossing again till he came to the stump . `` I never thought of that way , '' said Sam , watching him with much inward chagrin at his own failure . `` I should think you 'd written ` Look before you leap , ' in your copy-book often enough to get the idea into your stupid head .
Come , crook , '' commanded XXXXX , leaning forward with extended little finger .
Bab Ben Betty Sam copy-book first main-land right tuft tussock