The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-07-26

Harry had now shouldered the boy and was
taking him toward the coach.
g How long did it take? he called out to the
driver.
The man, who had heard Charlie's calcula-
tion laughed.
Thirty three seconds, sir" he said, approx
ingly, and very well done, too. l never see
poor Jim-the quarry man, you know sir-do
it quicker" He looked at Harry curiously for
moment, while the lad helped Charlie inside
the coach. You ire bound for the school, sir ?"
Harry nodded
"Ay," he said "my friend here had fall,
and it was the only way could get him down."
And begging your pardon, sir" the driver
went on, you're the young American gentle
man. / fancy?"
This time Harry laughed.
Why, how do you know that" he inquired.
"0h, l know'd by your accent, sir," remark
ed the man, gathering up his reins, but
know'd it more by your pluck"
III.
Three or four hours later Cornwallis came
along the valley road toward the school, He
had found himself caught in the fog had lost
his way, come out on the wrong side of the
mountain, and added eight or ten miles to his
already long walk. To these vexations was add
ed the accusing sense that he had left Tremaine
niiL CAdItAC OA tic llOuUt6iuf anu Iu6l dlT-
fax, as he had heard Tremaine call out was
famed. What if they could not get down? In
deed, ii Charlie were lame, how could they get
down? Most likely they We're still on top of
the crag. 1t was now quite dark. and even if
he reported il at the school, it would be too late
to hunt them up. The nearer he got to the
school, the more contemplate his own part in
the business seemed.
By-and-by he drew near the house Ordi-
narily one or two lights wonld be shining
through the windows, but now every room in
thesower floor was brilliantly illuminated. as
though party were going on. Wondering what
it could be. he trudged up to the gate, and pull
ed the bell In moment the porter's form ap-
peared on the other side of the bars.
whats the matter? inquired COrnwallis.
What's going on ?"
They're celebrating the American holiday,
sir" the man said, letting Cornwalis in.
Celebrating the American holiday What
did the man mean? CORVALLIS stared at him
for moment, then brushing by, walked up the
path to the door. Sounds of applause greeted
his ear as he opened it, and as he entered the
hall and looked through the door of the
school-room, an extraordinary sight met his
astonished gaze.
The boys were all seated at their forms; the
head masters figure occupied the platform; in
front of him, though CORVALLIS could hardly
believe his eyes, stood Tremaine, while over
the latter's head waved very small American
flag. Iremaine was reading from book, and
as CORVALLIS listened he heard these words:
That these united colonies are and of right
ought to be free and independent States; that
they are abSolyed from all allegiance to the
British Crown, and that all political connection
between them and the state of Great Britain is
and ought to be totally dissolved"
COrnwallis leaned over and touched Went
worth on the arm.
"What is it?" he asked "What does it
meant"
Wentworth looked up in surprise.
"Oh, it's you, is it?' he whispered while
Harry kept on reading. "Well, don't you ever
call Tremaine coward again"
What's happened?" asked CORVALLIS.
:" Wait minute" said Wentworth; II fancy
he's nearly through"
Harry's face was flushed with the excitement
of reading the stirring words of the Declaration
to an audience of British boys, none of whom
had ever heard it before, and his voice rang
through the hall as he repeated the closing
sentence: "'We mutually pledge to each other
our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor"
During the applause that followed Went
worth found a chance to tell what had hap
pened.
" You see" he added, after reeiting the story
of Harry's daring, we all felt ashamed of our
selves for calling a fellow that had so much
nerve as that coward. ofellow in the school,
you know, ever came down Canister Slide before.
We all apOlogized to him, but that didn't seem TO
be enough; we felt as five ought to do some
thing by way of pennance. So we asked the
Doctor if we might celebrate the American
holiday, and if Tremaine might read US his
Declaration of Independence, and that's what
he's been doing. And really, Cornwallis, if it's
all true, / believe myself the Americans were
right"
Without answering, CORVALLIS walked
across the room to where Harry was still
standing. His relief at finding that the boys
were not fog-bound on Canister Crag, and his
British admiration for a plucky thing, had
quite overcome his sense of resentment
. behaved like a brute to-day, Tremaine,"
he said, +" twice"
But Harry held out his hand.
Never mind Cornwallis" he said, heartily,
" it's all come around right, you see, and it's
the happiest Fourth 1 ever spent in my life"
-Harper's Young People.