n well. I
watched from behind the fence, and was delighted with the way you stood
up to those big fellows."

Tommy blushed with pride and pleasure. "They would have whipped us," he
replied, modestly, "if Dom Pedro hadn't scared them off."

"At any rate you brought the field-gun back, and you deserve great
credit for the way you stuck to your colors. But what is this that
Kinney tells me about setting a barn on fire?"

"It belonged to Tommy," said the others. "It was an old tool-house which
his father gave him to keep our things in. It made a beautiful fire."
Regretfully.

"And you burnt it up just so as to decoy the boys?" Incredulously.

"It was the only way to get the cannon," Tommy answered. "And the roof
leaked, anyway."

"It certainly was a clever scheme, though rather a risky one," said Mr.
Scott.

"I asked my father," Tommy hastened to explain. "And first he said no,
we mustn't do it, but when I told him that it was military tactics, and
how we wanted to prove to you that we were not such miserable cowards,
he gave in and said to go ahead."

"Well, you certainly have proved it, and fulfilled your part of the
contract with honor, so now I want to do my part. So you may invite
everybody you want--the whole town, if you wish--in my name, to a grand
exhibition of fireworks in honor of the Raleigh Reds."

The little Sergeant beamed from ear to ear. "Guy!" he ejaculated,
fervently, "what a slick old time we'll have!" Then, turning to the
smiling and embarrassed line, he cried, "Squad, _salute_!" and every
hand went up while the demoralized fife and drum favored Mr. Scott with
their wildest and most discordant tones.

Then down the field they marched triumphantly, with torn banner flying,
and Dom Pedro stalking gravely on ahead.

THE LITTLE MINUTE-MAN.

BY H. G. PAINE.

All during the winter Brinton had been saying what he would do if the
redcoats came, and grieving because his age, which was eight, prevented
him from going with his father to fight under General Washington.

Every night, when his mother tucked him in his bed and kissed him
good-night, he told her not to be afraid, that he had promised his
father to protect her, and he proposed to do it.

His plan of action, in event of the sudden appearance of the enemy,
varied somewhat from day to day, but in general outline it consisted of
a bold show of force at the front gate and a flank attack by Towser, the
dog. Should these tactics fai