bow and putting his hands to his wound. Promptly we clinched and fell upon old Charley. To the floor the three went, amid a shower of sparks from the cob pipe.  "You dam pesky kids!" said the angry voice of Charles (the timbre of that voice, after travelling through four inches of nose, is beyond imitation). "Get off'n me! Quit now! Stop yer blame foolin'!" 

 

 [Illustration: Get off'n me!] 

 Oscar and I swallowed our giggles and rolled all over Charley. "Well, by Jeeroosha!" came from the bottom of the heap in the tone of one who has reached the breaking point of astonished fury.  "I'm goin' to do some shootin' when this is over—yes, sir, I won't hold back no more—ef you boys don't git off'n me this minit, so help me Bob! I'll bite yer!" 

 This was a real danger, and we skipped off him briskly.  "Why, Charley," explained Oscar, "you see, we got so excited that we didn't notice——" 

 "There's Steve now," interrupted Charley, pointing with a long crooked forefinger to the doorway.  "Well, Steve! I'm glad you come. I just want you to see the kind of goin's on there is here."  Charles cleared his throat and stuck his thumb in his vest.  "F'r instance, this mornin', I sittin' right there in that corner, not troublin' nobody, when up gets that splay-footed, sprawlin', lumberin' bull-calf of an Oscar, an' that mischievious, sawed-off little monkey of a Harry, and they goes to pullin' and tusslin', and they jes' walks up and down on me, same's if I was a flight of steps. Now, you know, Steve, I'm a man of sagassity an' experiunce, an' I ain't goin' to stand fur no such dograsslin'. I felt like doin' them boys ser'us damage, but they're young, and life spreads green and promisin' befo' 'em, like a banana tree; consequently I prefer jus' to tell you my time is handed in." 

 Charley was proudly erect. His arms stretched aloft. His one yellow tooth rested on his lower lip; his face, the thickness and texture of a much-worn leather pocketbook, showed a tinge of colour as the words went to his head like wine. 

 Steve looked at the floor.  "Too bad, Charley; too bad," he said in grave sympathy.  "But probably we can fix it up. Now, as we have company, would you mind hitting the breakfast trail?" 

 "After I've made a few remarks," returned Charles haughtily. 

 Steve dropped on a stool.  "Sick your pup on," he said. Charley leaped at 

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