you," explained Henry.

"We-all takes turns doin' that," Keppel added.

"Well, and how many of you-all are there?" asked Yancy.

"There's six of we-uns and the baby."

They covertly examined this big bearded man who had lost his
nevvy, and almost his life. They had overheard their father and
mother discuss his plans and knew when he was recovered from his
wounds if he did not speedily meet up with his nevvy at a place
called Memphis, he was going back to Lincoln County, which was
near where they came from, to have the hide off a gentleman of
the name of Slosson. They imagined the gentleman named Slosson
would find the operation excessively disagreeable; and that Yancy
should be recuperating for so unique an enterprise invested him
with a romantic interest. Henry squirmed closer to the recumbent
figure on the bed.

"Me and Kep would like mighty well to know how you-all are goin'
to strip the hide offen to that gentleman's back," he observed.

Yancy instantly surmised that the reference was to Slosson.

"I reckon I'll feel obliged to just naturally skin him," he
explained.

"Sho', will he let you do that?" they demanded.