ng back every face bore the impress of a high
and noble resolution. It had been unanimously resolved--after a good
deal of pow-wow--that they should proceed in a body on the following
afternoon to Farmer Mercer's grounds and fish in Wissick Creek.

Behold them, then, at the time appointed, marching across the fields and
through the woods for all the world like a band of young crusaders, each
armed with a fishing pole and line! There were not enough "truly" poles
to go around, so many of the party were forced to cut branches from the
willows. On to prohibited territory they marched, eighteen strong,
Sidney Welch, having sought and received permission to absent himself
from practice, in command. In full view of the white farm-house they
lined the bank of the stream and threw in their lines. To be sure, many
of the lines were guiltless of flies or even worms, but that was a
detail. The minutes passed. One boy actually hooked a trout, but was so
surprised that the prey escaped before he could land it. And still the
minutes passed, and the irate voice of the tyrant sounded not. The
sportsmen began to tire and grew bored. Many of them had never fished
before and didn't care about it. A few tossed aside their rods and fell
to playing stick-knife. And then, just when Sid had decided to give up
and lead his defeated hosts back to school, a figure ambled toward them
across the meadow.

"He's coming!" whispered Sid hoarsely.

Fully half of the group exhibited unmistakable signs of alarm; half a
dozen edged toward home and were summoned back by the stauncher members.

"He can't do anything to us," said Sid nervously. "We're too many for
him--even if he is big!"

"Well, boys, what you doin'?" inquired the farmer amiably.

There was a moment of constrained silence. Then,

"Fishing," answered Sid bravely.

"Caught anything?" asked the farmer as he joined the group and looked
curiously at the huddled poles.

"Not yet, sir," answered Sid.

"Too sunny, I guess," was the reply.

The trespassers darted bewildered glances along their front. This awful
calm was worse than the expected storm.

"Didn't take you long to get here, by gum!" said Farmer Mercer
presently. "I didn't just bargain for having the whole school turn out
to once, but I don't know as it matters. A bargain's a bargain. I give
my word, and there it is. 'Let 'em come once a week, then,' says I, 'but
no more 'n that.' The way that gal sassed me was a caution!" Th