The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1901-07-26

against his LEFT shoulder while his two
hands were employed In whiting thin
slvcrs from piece of clear pine with
n keen edged hunting knife. All around
him were grouped the men, women and
CMldrCn of the village.
Many were armed with rifles and
guns, while the balance had cartridge
belts. powder TASKS and bullet pouches
strung about them and evidently acted
ns sort OF ammunition reserve.
Glad to meet yer, mlstcr," remarked
the elder after the major had been In.
troduccd Ivy the young farmer. But he
said this without so much as pauslng
or taking his eyes from of the whit
thug operations.
The major commanding told the tale
Of how they had all unknowingly stray.
cd into the territories OF the United
Stntcs in as few words as possible aud
respectfully asked permission FOR his
troop and himself TO pass on to their
own country unmolestcd.
at sounds straight enough, strnn.
GER replied Pop Smith as soon ms the
speaker had finished, "but I'll just
cross question another witness, I've
had my doubts about Stopping
short in his evident misgivings and
hurllng the stick OF wood upon which
he had been whiting into an adjacent
garden patch, he shut UP the knife nnd
called nt the top Of his lungs: seth!
Seth Larkins! Where he your
Here | be-" nasal voice replied,
Il t,,,.
mnndng had little difficulty in rccog
nizng as the occupant of the buggy
which had so hastily rctrcatcd on
catching sight of their array stepped
forward.
"Naow, Seth, you told us that you
saw whole British army londcd down
with plumber and looking like very
devils, didn't you?" inquired the elder
gravcly.
"Wcll. there was n gang OF thcm,"
answered the rustic surlily.
and they fred n lot of cannon and
rifles at you?" went on Pop relentless
ly, with dry humor in his tone.
"No, | never said that" retortcd the
other quickly. 81 said they was get
ting ready TO when | busted off SO
quick as not to give them any chance"
But you saw in the papers that there
was going to be war between England
and Amcriky before longW
Yes I've rcad that lots of times, and
so've you"
Seth Larkins," went on Pop Smith
Indignantly, you've told some pretty
tall hunting and fishing yarns In your
day, but | yum If this last rigamarole
don't lay over the whole billing of them"
Then, turning suddenly upon the major
commanding. "But, mister, there's one
thing more needs to be cleared up.
| What's all that smoke behind you? II
II hadn't been for that, we'd only
laughed at Seth and his string Of wild
talk. 1t looks most tarnation like as If
somebody had been setting fire to
houses and barns ana standing crops
I'm not going to take no.
"Thc woods are blazing, and the fire
is coming this way" hastily interrupt
ed the officer "There'll be houses and
barns and standing crops burning in
real earnest, and right around here,
too, If something Is not done in n
hurry"
"Gosh all hcmlocks" calculated more
than one of the male auditors.
"Have you any spare aXesW went on
the Canadian.
Hull gross new ones Just come in
replied Pop, nodding across the street
toward a store building which bore n
sign reading, "EbeneZer J. Smith, Post
office"
"Then can help you fight the fire
with a hundred good men," cried the
major commanding. at once stripping
off his uniform coat and climbing on
top Of one Of the wagons OF the barr.
cade in order to signal to his troopers
to come on. "We'll try n match to see
which side can set the chips dying the
fastest"
1t was great day. The combined
forces Of the townsmen and Light dra-
goons soon cleared a broad strip OF
woodland to fence off the advancing
flames. The women and children made
such fuss over the wounded trumpet
er that the boy Is nearly spoiled for or
dnary life. The troopers were feasted
and entertained to the verge Of acute
gastritis. Moreover, they were passed
free and clear to their own borders
and everybody sworn to silence CON
cerning their mishap. A certain rural
company of certain state national
guard has accepted an invitation to in
wade Canada secretly next summer,
and, If all goes as II should, some Of
them will meet brothers In law as well
as in arms among the Light Dragons.
New York Press.
The CrIiIcal Mamenf