The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-07-06

hind her Truth compels me to con-
TESS that 'Phrastus showed very little
generosity toward his imaginary foes.
The Chesapeake was full-fetlged
schooner, at least eighteen inches long.
with two rows of fire cracker guns OH
either side. The English ship was only
third as large-a block of wood whit
tied roughly into the scmblance of a
boat, with one crooked. wobbling mast
Her complement Of guns was Il nleager
half-dozen-thrce on q side.
'.I'0r you're bound to be bowed
kyer-highcr anyway, you old British
or" said 'Phrastus.
The two big fire crackers were placed
in position at the Chesaprake's boz
and stern. and the commodore. joyful
~ striking a match, stopped down to
fire his guns
Wh:lck! 'Phrastlis shot out into the
pond turning a sOmcrsault and scat
tering matches as he went. His line
of motion was directly across the Chesa
peakc. Both her stately masts snapped
and the stately vessel careencd till her
whole armament slid Off into the water.
'Phrastus's first thought as he elMerg-
cd putting and sputtering. was that the
heat had exploded the fire crackers all
at once. But when he got the water
out of his eyes. he saw that the British
had received unexpected reinforce
mcnts.
King George NIL. arriving upper
ceived from the rear. had disposed Of
the American commodore and now
turned his attention to the stars and
stripes, which lie damned into tho
bank with repeated blows of his wool
~ head.
The patriotic blood Of 'PhrastMs boil
ell
"Git out of that. you old British ram!
Le' my flag alanc! I'll hit you with "a
rock, l will!'
II. dug vainly about with his fingers
in the muddy bed of the pond. but
found nothing larger than n small pel-
Bile. Meantime King Georges pointed
feet were tramping his ammunition
deep into the soil. 'lllr,stus lifted
his voice in reproach art. n,mcntltioil.
You're the neincst. meanest old
sheep that ever was! We did beat you.
we did, we did! Oh my iag-boo-m'fr'
Observation-Disclosures a slim every last
one! l wish they'd bust and turn him
wrong-Sidc Oa-0u-Out."
Til, howl drew King Georges atten-
ton to the pond He stood II moment
with lowered horns. AMI then plunged
Overwhelmingly forward. drawing back,
however. MS his feet touched the water.
At the forward movement 'Phrastus
turned and ran. He reached the shore
as King George came galloping around
tho curve.
Up tho nearest tree scrambled the
small American. II was not II very
large one. and received II blow from
King Georges head that almost shook
the climber leosr before lie reached a
place Of safety In the crotch.
For some tmc-'I'liraStus afterwarl
said the hull mornin'." but lie was in
no condition to judge-King George hut
ted the tree bringing down upon linn
self fresh explosions Of fearful wrath,
and all the brcakable branches 'Phras-
tus could reach. Afterward he nibblcd
about in the vicinity returning ut inter-
walls to renew the assault and never
going far enough away to permit the
escape Of the prisoner.
Aunt 'Scilla's dinner WAS late. for
Uncle Ben went to the parade: but 1t
was an exceptionally good one. and
there was puffy turnover Mt 'Phras-
tus's place. Aunt 'Scilla rang the little
bell. aud Uncle Ben rang tlNnlig bell.