spiration.
Once a team went jangling and creaking past, raising a yellow blur of
dust before the soft tones of the field and sky. In the long grass of
the meadow across the road the insects chirped and clacked eternally.

Suddenly a frouzy-headed boy appeared in the roadway, his bare feet
pattering rapidly. He was extremely excited. He gave a shrill whoop as
he discovered the sleeping major and rushed toward him. He created a
terrific panic among some chickens who had been scratching intently near
the major's feet. They clamoured in an insanity of fear, and rushed
hither and thither seeking a way of escape, whereas in reality all ways
lay plainly open to them.

This tumult caused the major to arouse with a sudden little jump of
amazement and apprehension. He rubbed his eyes and gazed about him.
Meanwhile, some clever chicken had discovered a passage to safety and
led the flock into the garden, where they squawked in sustained alarm.

Panting from his run and choked with terror, the little boy stood before
the major, struggling with a tale that was ever upon the tip of his
tongue.

"Major--now--major----"

The old man, roused from a delicious slumber, glared impatiently at the
little boy. "Come, come! What's th' matter with yeh?" he demanded.
"What's th' matter? Don't stand there shaking! Speak up!"

"Lots is th' matter!" the little boy shouted valiantly, with a courage
born of the importance of his tale. "My ma's chickens 'uz all stole,
an'--now--he's over in th' woods!"

"Who is? Who is over in the woods? Go ahead!"

"Now--th' rebel is!"

"What?" roared the major.

"Th' rebel!" cried the little boy, with the last of his breath.

The major pounced from his bench in tempestuous excitement. He seized
the little boy by the collar and gave him a great jerk. "Where? Are yeh
sure? Who saw 'im? How long ago? Where is he now? Did you see 'im?"

The little boy, frightened at the major's fury, began to sob. After a
moment he managed to stammer: "He--now--he's in the woods. I saw 'im. He
looks uglier'n anythin'."

The major released his hold upon the boy, and, pausing for a time,
indulged in a glorious dream. Then he said: "By thunder! we'll ketch th'
cuss. You wait here," he told the boy, "an' don't say a word t' anybody.
Do yeh hear?"

The boy, still weeping, nodded, and the major hurriedly entered the inn.
He took down from its pegs an awkward, smoothbore rifle and carefully
examined the enormous percussion ca