story of Balaam
and his ass over again. There must be an angel somewhere round,'
glancing from side to side as he spoke, in a way that almost made me
laugh, angry as I was at the human brute, or rather the inhuman
scoundrel, who had been treating the poor creature so cruelly.

"Others looked too, but didn't seem to be able to see the angel.

"Hunt, standing close at my side, gave a low whistle. 'What, upon
earth?' he said. 'Oh, there must be a ventriloquist somewhere in the
crowd. I'd like to know who he is. Wouldn't you, Max?'

"Do you really think that's the explanation?' I asked. 'Certainly,' he
answered, in a tone as if he was rather disgusted at my stupidity. 'How
else could you account for the seeming ability of that wretched animal
to talk?'

"'I can't think of any other explanation,' I answered, 'but I hope that
inhuman wretch of a driver doesn't know anything about ventriloquists,
and so will be afraid to ill-use the poor creature any more.' 'I hope
so, indeed,' he said. 'See, the crowd are stroking and patting it, and
yonder comes a man with a bucket of water, and another with a panful of
oats. The ventriloquist has done some good.'

"'I'm glad of it,' I replied. Then, looking at my watch, I saw that it
was time for us to go back to the Academy.

"Hunt told the story to some of the other fellows that evening, and
there was great wonderment about the ventriloquist, and a good many
wished they could have a chance to see him and some of his tricks. Some
of them remarked, in a wondering way, that I seemed very indifferent
about it, and then I told them of Cousin Ronald and his doings at Ion,
which interested them very much, and several said they would like
greatly to make his acquaintance and see and hear what he could do.
Isn't it good, papa, that they have never once suspected me?"

"Well," exclaimed Lulu, "Max used his talent to do good that time.
Didn't he, papa?"

"He did, indeed," replied the captain. "I hope that poor horse will, as
a consequence, receive better treatment in future."

"I'm so glad Maxie could frighten the man so and make him stop treating
it so dreadfully," remarked Grace, with a sigh of relief. "I never
thought before that that talent of his was good for anything but to make
fun for folks."

"The ability to afford amusement to others is a talent not to be
despised," said her father; "for innocent mirth often does good like a
medicine; but power to rescue even a dumb beast from