Just William's Luck

Book Excerpt: ...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...