rue. We must go well armed. I'll carry the gun. It will do to knock
the pistol out of his hand before he gets a chance to use it."

"Perhaps so," assented Mrs. Badger.

"And you, Andrew Jackson, what can you take?"

"I'll take the poker," said the heroic Andrew.

"Very good! We had better arm ourselves as soon as possible or he may
wake up. By the way, Mr. Badger, where is the ball of twine? It will be
useful to tie the boy's hands."

"If his hands are tied he can't work."

"No, but I will only keep them tied while I give him a thrashing. You
can take possession of his pistol and hide it. When he is thoroughly
subdued we will untie him and send him to work."

"Without his breakfast?" suggested Andrew.

"No, he has already fasted since yesterday morning, and it may make him
desperate. He shall have some breakfast, and that will give him strength
to work."

Andrew Jackson was rather disappointed at the decision that Bill was to
have breakfast, but on this point he did not venture to oppose his
father.

The plan of campaign having been decided upon, it only remained to carry
it out.

Mr. Badger took the old musket and headed the procession. His wife
slipped downstairs and returned with the kitchen broom and a poker. The
last she put in the hands of her son.

"Use it, Andrew Jackson, if occasion requires. You may be called upon to
defend your father and mother. Should such be the case, do not flinch,
but behave like a hero."

"I will, ma!" exclaimed Andrew, fired perhaps by the example of the
great general after whom he was named. "But you and pa must tackle him
first."

"We will!" exclaimed the intrepid matron. "The disgraceful scenes of
last evening must not again be enacted. This time we march to certain
victory. Mr. Badger, go on, and I will follow."

The three, in the order arranged, advanced to the foot of the stairs,
and Mr. Badger slowly and cautiously mounted them, pausing before the
door of the room that contained, as he supposed, the desperate boy.

"Shall I speak to him before entering?" he asked in a tone of
indecision, turning back to his wife.

"Certainly not; it will put him on his guard. Keep as still as you can.
We want to surprise him."

To account for what followed it must be stated that Dick Schmidt
awakened his visitor early and the two went down to breakfast. Mr.
Schmidt was going to the market town and found it necessary to breakfast
at five o'clock. This happened fortunately