he brush
into the creature's back, saying,--

"I make 'im wun!"

Frantically jumped the deer at this--a _denouement_ so unexpected to
his assailants, that the line became broken, the little soldiers were
tumbled together, with Tom on top of them, and the deer stood almost
at the same instant at the other end of the patch, the whole being
accomplished with marvellous quickness.

"Get off my head!" screamed Sarah from under the heap.

"O, dear, you'll break my arm!" cried Eliza.

"What did you fall on me for?" angrily demanded Bob of Charley, as he
spit the dirt from his mouth. "You did it on purpose--you know you
did!"

"No, I didn't!"

"Yes, you did!"

"I should a thought Tom might a held the deer, an' not fell on us so
heavy," sobbed Sarah, rubbing her eyes with her begrimed gown.

But while they fretted, the fawn had been critically examining the
fence to find egress, seeing which the children dried their tears, and
made for him again; and at length the graceful creature, bewildered by
the din, and foiled by numbers, was forced to surrender himself after
another vigorous scramble, in which the basket of potatoes was
overturned, and the corn scattered in delightful disorder, and was
borne by Tom in triumph to the cabin, accompanied by the excited
group.

"We've got him, marm--we've got him!" they shouted in chorus as they
followed their leader into the house.

"And where will you keep him to-night?" she inquired.

"He tan seep with me!" promptly answered Bub, at which there was much
merriment.

"No," replied Tom, shaking his head at the mischief-maker, "you will
stick a stick into his back, and 'make 'im wun' again."

After much deliberation it was decided that the fawn be tied to a
bed-post, while a pen was built for his accommodation near the cabin.
This was soon accomplished, and the fawn placed in it.

When Tom returned to his work, the day was far gone. He gazed around
with regret as he saw that not only was it now too late to finish
getting in the crops, but that the chase of the deer, in which he had
engaged with so much ardor, had made him no little extra labor. What a
task it would be to find all the potatoes, scattered and trampled into
the rich earth as they were! and the bundles of corn had been broken
from their bindings, and must be gathered together and refastened. To
find and carry in the potatoes consumed the time till supper; and
then, at his mother's call, he went in depressed an