Publisher's Synopsis
ll a--call a mincing-machine, Ex-Ex--what you said, - said Douglas. William ignored him. -Well, all the others pulled an' pulled an' pulled an' couldn't get it out.- -You said that before, - said Douglas. -The nex' time you int'rupt--- said William threateningly, then, a note of pathos invading his voice, -You asked me to tell you this story, didn't you?- -We didn't ask you to go on and on sayin' the same thing over an' over again, - said Douglas, adding, after a moment's thought, -You might as well call a coal shovel Arthur as a sword.- -The sword wasn't called Arthur, - said William. -The man was called Arthur. The sword was called Excelsior.- -It must have had the same name as this other man, - said Henry. -I know this other man was called Excelsior, 'cause I learnt it once. The shades of night were falling fast an- he met an awful avalanche. I forget the rest, but it was jolly excitin'- -Gosh!- said William in despair. -Don't you want to hear this story?-
