Four boys in the Yellowstone

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“ There goes ‘ Old Faithful ’ ! ”

HOW THEY WENT

AND

WHAT THEY DID r

BY

EVERETT T. TOMLINSON

AUTHOR OF “the BOY SOLDIERS OF 1812,” “THE BOYS WITH OLD HICKORY,” “ TECUMSEIl’s YOUNG BRAVES,” “CAMP- ING ON THE ST. LAWRENCE,” “ THE HOUSE BOAT ON THE ST. LAWRENCE,” “THE RIDER OF THE BLACK HORSE,” “THE RED CHIEF,” “WARD HILL AT WESTON,” “ THE WINNER,” ETC., ETC.

ILLUSTRATED BY H. C. EDWARDS

BOSTON

LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.

Cooyiitfilt Entry *

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Copyright, 1906,

By LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.

All Rights Reserved.

Four Boys in the Yellowstone.

NorinootJ ^^ress

J. S. Cushing & Co. — Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

Preface

SuKELY for Young Americans, whatever may be the advantages of travel in Europe, — advantages which the writer in no way attempts to belittle, — there is special need of an appreciation of the vastness, the beauty, and grandeur of the land of their birth. If America’s rocks and rills and vales and templed hills are to be loved, not only must their praises be sung, but they themselves must be seen and known.

In this account of the experiences of ^^Four Boys in the Yellowstone,” the writer has endeavored not only to tell a story, but also to arouse an interest among his readers in some of their own marvellous possessions. Yellowstone Park, as all know, belongs to the nation. Above the beautiful arch at the entrance to the wonderful region is carved in stone — ^^For the

BENEFIT AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PEOPLE.”

PREFACE

If pleasure shall be found in reading this story and an increased interest and pride in “their own, their native land ” shall be created among its readers, the writer will feel that his purpose has been accomplished.

EVEEETT T. TOMLINSON.

Elizabeth, N.J.

. 375

XXXII. Homeward Bound

. 387

ILLUSTRATIONS

“ There goes Old Faithful I ” (Page 288) Frontispiece

PAGE

“ Here he is now,” exclaimed John .... 109

The canoes darted forward almost with the speed

OF THE WIND 170

His enemy, with blazing eyes and open jaws, was

IN FULL PURSUIT 331

The young giant had swept her back close to the

RAIL 351

In DESPERATION LaRCUM FLUNG HIS ARMS AROUND

the animal’s neck 362

FOUE BOYS IN THE YELLOWSTONE

Chapter I

^^Jack, that name looks good on the printed programme. I congratulate you. ^John Adams Field, Jr.' You don't often hear a more high-sounding name than that."

^^I'm afraid the name isn't the real measure of the man," replied John Field to his friend, Larcum Brown, with a light laugh. The latter was holding in his hand the printed statement of the closing exercises of the school year at Wendell Academy, and both boys were members of the class which was about to be graduated.

Waledictory — John Adams Field, Jr.'" continued Larcum, reading aloud. That's pretty good, I take it ! You won't be receiving epistles from home like those which have been coming to me of late from my parental domicile bidding me to ‘do better/ and ‘work harder/ and ‘make a name for myself/ and all that. When I was at home for the Easter vacation, my mother one night, when we were at the dinner table, suggested to me that I should emulate the worthy example of my father, and graduate at the head of my class as he did. You know. Jack, my father was a Wendell boy, too. He fitted for college here.’^

“Yes, I know,^^ responded John. “What did you tell your mother?’’ As Larcum Brown was known as a student whose prowess on the athletic field was much greater than in the classroom, and he never studied, as he himself expressed it, unless he had to, the smile on John’s face as he asked the question was in no way irritating to his friend.

“Why,” drawled Larcum, “I told her she was the best little mother in all this land, and I’d do anything in my power for her — except that. There were imperative reasons why I was compelled to decline her invitation, though I did it with thanks and the most complete sense of the honor she had done me by the suggestion.”

“What did your father say?” inquired John, lightly.

“What did he say? Why, he didn’t say anything. He just laughed.” Larcum’s manner was so serious that his friend was compelled to laugh too. don’t see anything about that that’s so terribly funny,” continued Larcum.

don’t know why it is that whatever I say or whatever I do, I always seem to provide my friends with a great store of amusement.”

^^You can’t help that, Larc,” exclaimed John. ^^It’s the way you’re made.”

^^Am I any different from — from you or any of the Cardinals? Oh, yes, I’m no Pharisee, but still I’m thankful I’m not just like some people I know. Now there’s Lee Harris,” he added, as the young man in question entered the room in which the two friends already referred to were seated. ^H’m glad I’m not like him, for example.”

^^You couldn’t be, suh, if you did your prettiest,” responded Lee, as he flung himself on the divan. ^^Jack,” he added, “1 congratulate you. It’s an honor worthily bestowed. To be the valedic in a class of sixty is not — ”

^^Yes, Jack leads one end of the class, and you and I, Lee, are nip and tuck for the other end,” broke in Larcum. ^Hf you don’t look out, Lee, I shall be graduated — ”

congratulate you,” interrupted Lee. don’t believe there is a fellow in Wendell Academy that ever would have believed it/^

^^Oh, the work’s all in, the certificates are all signed, and my name’s on the list. I saw it myself.”

^^Was mine there?” inquired Lee, quickly.

^^’Twas too much work to look so far down the line, so I can’t tell you. I didn’t get as far as ^ H.’ ”

^‘Then I shall have to do that myself,” sighed Lee.

^^Oh, you’re all right, Lee; you know you are,” said John, quickly.

'^Yes, I know I am,” responded Larcum; ^^I’m not so sure, though, about Lee.”

'^Well, whatever may be my shortcomings,” said Lee, ^^you can’t say the Cardinals haven’t done themselves proud. Here’s Jack is valedictorian of our class, and Scott Gordon is fourth man, and even if you and I, Larc, do bring up the rear guard, why, a rear guard is necessary. It’s a place of honor. There was a gentleman named Clearchus who held that position in the march of the ten thousand — ”

^ ^ Sure ’twas Clearchus, Lee ? Wasn’t it Cyrus ? ” inquired Larcum.

^Hf my memory serves me correctly, suh, his name was Clearchus. I’ll leave it to our friend Jack here to decide.”

never mind him,” said John. ^^Where’s Scott ? I sent for him to come over to my room, as Larc had something he wanted to say to us, and this was about the last time the Cardinals could get together.”

He’ll be here all right. You needn’t worry about Scott, when I’ve got a proposition to make like the one I’m going to give the Cardinals,” said Larcum.

^^Are you going to give it right soon?” inquired Lee.

Just as soon as the points of the compass are complete,” said Larcum. ^^You might be willing to leave out the North, but we wouldn’t.”

^H’d not leave out Scott Gordon for all the North or East either,” said Lee, warmly. '^To my mind, he’s — ”

^^To your whatf^^ interrupted Larcum.

^^To my mind, suh,” retorted Lee. do not wonder that the word strikes you with surprise. Is it the first time you ever heard it?”

^^Yes, it’s the first time I ever heard it used in such a connection.”

Lee joined in the laughter of John at his friend^s thrust, and then said: say, fellows, I feel like

I was leaving home to-day. I wish Scott would come. I want to see the old man before I go South. You know I have to leave right soon.’^ exclaimed Larcum. ^^You don’t mean that ! You are going to stay to Commencement, aren’t you?”

^^Oh, thank you,” laughed Lee. fancied I was on the point of departure for the Southland, but since the leader of my class — he himself says leading is merely a matter of direction — tells me I am mistaken, why, I suppose I am. I suppose I am.”

^^But I’ve got something to say,” protested Larcum.

^'I’m mighty glad to hear it. It must be a decidedly novel experience to you,” said Lee.

You’ll think it is when you hear it. Now be sober for a minute, fellows,” pleaded Larcum. ^^Just think of us four. I don’t wonder the whole school called us the Cardinals. Here’s John Adams — he’s the Eastern representative. I think you said your home was in Boston?” and Larcum bowed low to his friend as he spoke.

^^You are correct,” assented John.

^Tut it in the paper. It^ll be news to everybody that Larc Brown was for once in his life correct/^ suggested Lee.

Never you mind that!” exclaimed Larcum. ^^You listen to me, and you^ll learn something. To go on with the Cardinals — there^s Jack from the East, and Lee here — well, he tries to represent the South. He does the best he can, so we mustnT be too hard with him. Then Scott is the Northern representative, and I^m from the West.”

^^Very much so !” remarked Lee.

^^Yes, and I^m proud of it, too !” retorted Larcum, turning to face his friend.

^H^m not surprised. But permit me to inquire how the West feels about it. Does the West reciprocate the feeling?”

afraid you wouldnT understand.”

^Ht looks like I wouldn't. That's so.”

^ ^ Well, let me go on, ” pleaded Larcum . ^ ^ Whenever I think of the Cardinals, I'm fired with enthusiasm — ”

^Wou'd be fired with still greater enthusiasm if I had my way,” interrupted Lee.

For a moment, as even Larcum was compelled to join in the laugh that greeted Lee's words.

it looked very much as if Larcum was about to roll his friend from the divan to the floor. As Lee was a dark-haired, black-eyed, slight fellow, and Larcum was a young giant, the best ^Hackle Wendell Academy had had in many years, the contest would have been somewhat uneven, but all danger was gone when John said quickly: —

^^Here! none of that! IVe been working for days to get my room in shape for my visitors at Commencement, and you fellows aren’t going to have any ^ rough house’ here now, let me tell you !”

There wouldn’t have been any rough house. I was only going to spank an impudent little boy,” explained Larcum, soberly.

“He means he was about to try it,” suggested Lee.

Once more there were signs of a friendly conflict, but peace was restored by John, who, being in the secret of the proposition Larcum was about to place before them, was eager for him to proceed.

“I was saying,” began Larcum once more, “I was not surprised that the school has dubbed us the Cardinals, since we are supposed to represent the four cardinal points of the compass. For three years now we’ve been together and every one in his place — except Lee, who has done his best, and we must not be too sharp with him. And now —

^^Now, here comes Scott the long-lost,^^ interrupted Lee, as the fourth member of the Cardinals entered John^s room. The newcomer paused upon the threshold and gazed inquiringly at his friends. He it was who represented the North in the quartette, and his vigorous air, his well-knit and well-dressed frame, his general appearance, presented a sharp contrast not only with the burly frame of Larcum and the slighter physique of Lee, but to the serious and shrewd expression that appeared on John^s face.

^^Have a chair, called Lee. ^^We were just discussing your name — ”

was talking about the Cardinals,’^ broke in Larcum. ^^Your name, Scott, did come up half an hour ago, but that^s as near to being on time as Lee can be, I suppose.^^

^^What^s in a name, anyway?^’ inquired Scott, as he seated himself in one of the chairs, which he immediately tipped back against the wall.

^Ht depends,^^ said Larcum. ^^Now I fancy Lee here is just about as much like Robert E. Lee as Jack is like John Adams.^^

'Tellows/^ said John, more soberly, ‘^do you know IVe been thinking about that a good deal lately? The truth is, every fellow is bound to make a name for himself whether he wants to or not, and it doesnT make a bit of difference what his given name is, either. The blackest man I ever saw was a darkey preacher named Adoniram Judson White. The shortest man in our class is Tom Long, and the dullest one is Joe Sharp. He wouldnT know an idea if it hit him squarely in the face. But we’re all like the Indians — we give names to one another that fit the man. It’s been the way of the world forever. When Jacob changed his nature, his name was changed to fit it. So was Saul’s name changed, and Simon’s. Just think of ^Stonewall’ Jackson, William the ^Silent,’ ^Fighting Joe’ Hooker. Why, we give names to almost every fellow in our class, and I tell you the names we give one another, though no one knows them but ourselves, are the names that really describe us — ”

^^Yes, look at my name,” interrupted Larcum, ruefully. ^'The fellows all call me Larc. Now I’m just like a lark — anybody can see that. I’m always up early and I soar and sing — ”

A shout of laughter interrupted the huge tackle’s lament, butLarcum was not to be quieted.

tell you it’s a shame, fellows, for a chap to have to take a name like mine just because it happened to be his mother’s maiden name. She ought to have had more consideration for my delicate feelings. I’m about as much like a ^lark’ as Lee is like a general.”

^^Oh, you needn’t worry,” suggested Lee. ^^It wasn’t that kind of a lark the fellows had in mind when they named you.”

never thought of that,” said Larcum, solemnly, whereat the delight of his friends became still more marked.

^^How is it with the names of the faculty. Jack?” inquired Scott. ^^You know they don’t all go exactly by the names and titles that appear in the catalogue.”

think it’s the same way there,” replied John.

Every man of them might do well to think pretty seriously over the names the boys have given them. I’ve been reading Tilgrim’s Progress,’ and I’ve been interested in the names John Bunyan gave his heroes. There was Mr. Readyto-Halt, Mr. Great-Heart, Mr. Slothful, and all the rest. It was the same way with him that it is with us and was with the wild Indians.

Every man gets the name he deserves, before he^s done with it. Some get the name of being ^square/ and some ^straight/ and some 'crooked/ and some ' slippery.’

"Right you are, Jack,” responded Scott. "But what has all that to do with the proposition our Larc has got to make to us, I’d like to know?”

"Nothing. But I’ll let him tell his story for himself,” replied John, and the eyes of all the boys were at once turned to their friend.

CHAPTER II c

SAY, fellows, began Larcum, in his most drawling of tones, which would you rather do, go abroad or have a trip in your own country?’^ For a moment his friends stared at the representative of the West, and then Scott said, ^Hs that what you got all the cardinal points together for? Just to ask that fool question

^^For my part 1 think I^d prefer a trip to the moon,^^ suggested Lee. ^HVe always had a longing to see the ^ crater.^ I donT know, though, but I^d rather go to the planet Mars. The people there are said to be pretty queer, and I^d like to see some of their canals and things.’^

^^You neednT laugh, fellows, retorted Larcum. ^^Far be it from me even to smile, said Scott, in mock seriousness. alarmed, I am.

I^m afraid our friend Larc has been living so high 21 and studying so hard of late that he^s gone out of his head/^

^^That^s my fear, too,” suggested Lee. think we ought to hold him down and make a good search for the place through which he escaped. It wouldn^t be very large, you know, and it might be a bit hard to find it; but if we could find it, we^d help him back into himself. Wouldn^t we, fellows?”

^'You might try it,” retorted Larcum, grimly. ‘‘1 tell you I may not know very much about history and physics, but there are times when a knowledge of the science of football stands a man in good stead.” As he spoke, the young giant pushed back his huge shoulders and smiled grimly at his friends as if he was inviting them to attempt to test Lee’s suggestion.

Science ’ ! ” exclaimed Lee. ^Science ! Science in football!’ I’d have you know there’s about as much science in football as there is in a prize ox at a county fair.”

That’s all you know about it!” exclaimed Larcum, as his friends joined in the laugh that arose at Lee’s words. ^^I’ll leave it to you, fellows, if there’s a student in Wendell that yells louder or gets more excited at a football game than

Lee himself. Why, in the last game we had with the freshmen I couldn^t hear a sound on the gridiron, Lee here was squealing so up on the bleachers. Perhaps he called it a yell, but — ”

Never you mind, suh,” interrupted Lee. was interested in the science of the game.^^’ Science^? I thought you just said there wasn’t any science in football,” retorted Larcum, warmly.

^^You are mistaken. There isn’t a game in all this land that is its equal for science, unless it’s bull-fighting.”

^Bull-fighting ’ ? That’s just brute force. I never saw a bull-fight in my life, but from what I’ve heard it’s the most brutal thing going.”

Right you are! It is the most brutal — except football. But what I meant was, that they both gave a great show for science — I mean, of course, the science of the surgeon.”

^^Lee,” laughed John, ^^I’m afraid you’re a bit out of your head, too. That diet at Dr. Hale’s doesn’t seem to have agreedfwith you.”

^Ht hasn’t, it hasn’t! And I can tell you, gentlemen, that I didn’t seek it of my own accord, either. My father is a good man, but he didn’t know what he was doing when he advised me to board with Dr. Hale for the last two months. Oh, I know he did it out of the kindest of motives. He thought if I went to live with the doctor, I^d become a bit more interested in my Latin and Greek, since Dr. Hale was the teacher. But it didn^t work. It wasn^t like he thought, suh. IVe had plenty of plain living and mighty little of the high thinking IVe heard so much about.

^^Didn^t they feed you well?^^ inquired Scott, with a laugh.

^^Well, that depends,^^ replied Lee, shrugging his shoulders. ^Terhaps the way they looked at it, it was all right, but it wasn^t exactly like — like what I should expect in such a family.

^^Oh, you wanted fried chicken and hoecake every meal, that’s all,” said John.

^^That would have been better. When you come down to my home. I’ll show you ! But these fishballs and baked beans of the East — ”

“Didn’t they give you any steak, Lee ?” laughed Larcum.

“Well, that depends. Yesterday morning they gave me a piece of what they called steak and I began to work upon it. If I’d been tackle on the football team, I might have made an impression on it, but though I was doing my best, I didn^t succeed very well in finding a vulnerable part. Finally Mrs. Hale seemed to be sorry for me, and she said, ^Mr. Harris, I’m afraid your meat isn’t very good. I paid twenty-five cents a pound for that steak.’”

^^What did you say then, Lee?” inquired John, who was aware of his friend’s prejudice against what he termed ^^New England thrift.”

^^What did I say?” retorted Lee, his eyes twinkling as he spoke. ^^Why, I just said, ^Mrs. Hale, that’s tough.’”

A shout of laughter greeted the young Southerner’s words, and when a measure of quiet had been restored, Larcum said, ^^But you don’t answer my question, fellows.”

^^Let me see. What was your question, Larc ?” inquired Scott, soberly.

Which would you rather do — take a trip abroad or one in your own country?”

^Hf you ask me,” replied Scott, ^H’d rather take one in my own country.”

''You’ve been abroad, Scott. You’re no judge,” said John.

"Yes, I’ve been abroad,” assented Scott, "but that may be just the reason why I am a judge.”

"Didn’t you like it?” inquired John.

^'Yes, I liked it, but I^d rather see my own country first.

‘ 1 love thy rocks and rills ;

Thy woods and templed hills.’ ”

Scott hummed the words of the song and then turned to Lee, and said, ^'Now if I was like you and didn’t know any song but Dixie, I might feel differently about it, you see.”

Dixie is all right!” retorted Lee, shortly, a slight flush appearing in his cheeks.

^^Oh, yes, it’s all right. Everybody likes it. It’s a mighty stirring little tune, but then think of ^America’ I That’s got a dignity and a swing to it.”

^^I’m not saying anything against 'America,’” insisted Lee, "but you’ll have to own up it’s only a plagiarism on 'God Save the King.’”

"Here, you fellows, quit that, I say!” said Larcum, fearful that the friendly discussion was becoming a trifle too warm. "Tell me, Scott, why you say you’d rather travel in your own country first.”

"Just because it is my country,” said Scott, eagerly. "I tell you this is the most wonderful land in all the world. I haven’t a bit of patience with the people that always want to see something else before theyVe even seen anything of their own. I tell you there are lots of men and women who go abroad and all they bring home with them is an aped English accent and two or three little French phrases. But just think of what we Ve got right here at home ! Did you ever see such mountains? Where in the world are there such rivers and plains ? Just see the wealth wehe getting out of our mines and digging out of our great farms ! No, sir ! give me America every time. And IVe never seen much of it, either,’^ he added lugubriously.

^^Hear! Hear!^’ shouted Lee, in mock enthusiasm.

^‘1 think it all depends,^’ suggested John, seriously. ^^IVe never been abroad, and IVe never seen much of my own country, either. If one wants to see what man has done, he ought to go abroad. If iFs nature he wants, he can find plenty of it right here at home ! I think Scott is right about that.”

^^^The proper study of mankind is man,^” said Lee, musingly.

^^ThaFs not original. IVe heard that before,” retorted Larcum.

^^IVe always thought I^d like to see the pictures in the galleries of the Old World/ ^ suggested John. ^^They^re Vay ahead of us on art.^^

^^Yes, I suppose they are/^ assented Scott. ^^But, Jack, honestly, how many times have you been up to the Boston Museum? Do you go to the Metropolitan when you^re in New York?^^ have been to both places,^' replied John, with a smile.

^^Yes, I suppose so. But usually it’s your man from Kalamazoo or Oshkosh, who makes a trip once in his lifetime to the city, that does the museums. It isn’t the man that lives right there and who can go any day he wants to. Only the trouble with him is that he doesn’t want to.”

^^All the same, I should like to see those pictures,” asserted John.

^^Oh, they’re great, I’m not denying that,” acknowledged Scott. ^^But it’s nature against art I’m talking about. And then, too, some of those old fellows made the most outlandish mistakes too.”

^^And waited all these years for you to correct them?” inquired Lee.

^^I’m not trying to correct them,” retorted Scott, ignoring the laugh that arose at Lee’s question, ^^but I know what I know, all the same. Why, I saw a painting of Tintoretto’s entitled ^The Children of Israel gathering Manna,’ and he had every Israelite armed with a gun. Now what do you think of that?” he demanded.

‘A think it was a good trick,” replied Lee. “They were troubled with hornets, weren’t they? Well, they could shoot the little pests.”

“With guns? More than three thousand years before gunpowder was invented?”

“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that,” said Lee, drolly, whereat every one laughed.

“And then Cigoli painted Simeon with spectacles,” declared Scott.

“Why didn’t he paint with brushes ? ” demanded Lee. “Weren’t they invented then, either?”

“He had the spectacles on Simeon,” explained Scott.

“Why not? He was an old man. He had a right to use spectacles, hadn’t he?”

“A thousand years or so before they were invented?”

“Oh,” murmured Lee, and his companions laughed again.

“Then I saw in Berlin a picture of the Virgin and the Child listening to a violin.”

harm in that, so far as I can see/^ suggested the irrepressible Lee.

‘^And Diirer has a Roman soldier smoking a pipe in his painting of ^ Peter denying Christ.’ I wonder what Sir Walter Raleigh would have thought about that?”

! but you know a lot about art and things, don’t you, Scott?” said Larcum, in mock surprise.

^^No, I don’t, but I wish I did,” replied Scott.

There’s a big difference between knowing the names of some artists and understanding or appreciating what they did.”

^^I’m afraid you looked for the flaws and forgot to see the good things, Scott,” suggested John.

^^No, I didn’t either. My aunt was along with me and she knows a lot about such things. She pointed out to me a good many things I’m glad now I saw. But what I mean is that I’d rather any day see a mountain than just a picture of a mountain. I’d rather see a great river like the Mississippi than see a little piece of canvas with a painted picture of water on it. I don’t care what the name of the artist is. See what I mean?”

^^Yes, we see; but what’s that got to do with Larc’s question?” inquired Lee.

“Wait till I explain/^ said Larcum, quickly. “You know my father is a railroad man, don^t you?’^

“It^s not his son^s fault if we don^t,’^ assented Lee.

“Well, he has written me that if I^d like to, we can take his private car this summer and have a trip over the Northern Pacific Railroad out to the Yellowstone Park. Of course he wouldn’t want me to take along any objectionable character and all that, and whoever went would have to behave himself, you understand.”

“Larc, that’s great!” exclaimed Scott, enthusiastically.

“Is he going?” inquired Lee, quickly rising and pointing at Scott as he spoke.

“He is,” replied Larcum.

“Am I going?” demanded Lee.

“That’s for you to say.”

“For me to say? Well, I don’t know what to say. It’ll depend on the report of the secretary of the treasury — ”

“Hold on ! You won’t have to consult him,” laughed Larcum. “This is my treat, or rather my father’s. We’ll have a private car, you see, all to ourselves. We’ll have everything supplied, — two men on the car, all we want to eat, no tickets; just a good time, and no frills either/'

^^It's a great temptation, but I can't tell the tempter to get behind me this time," said Lee. ^^In spite of all you say a few shekels will be necessary, I fancy. When I was home at Christmas, my father laughed and said if I didn't do better, he'd have to cut me off with a shilhng. I'll think I'll telegraph him now to send that shilling along. I may need it before we get out of the Yellowstone."

^^All right. You won't need much more, though, for it's my treat, as I told you," laughed Larcum. ^^But that isn't all I want to say; I've got something else to propose, too." And his eager friends crowded about him to hear what he was about to say.

Chapter III

^^The suggestion I wish to make/’ resumed Larcum, ^'is that we should all meet in Buffalo and take a trip up the Great Lakes. I can arrange for our passage, and it’ll be a great trip ! We can take one of the steamers of the Anchor Line. Their boats are new and everything is first-class, and they stop at several places along the route, so that we can have a peep into some of our American cities, even if we can’t stop long enough to let all the towns honor us as we deserve. And then our car can meet us at Duluth. What do you say?”