thousandth repetition of the story of the battle of Niagara (varied
to suit customers), told by the old soldier who either was or was not a
participant in the battle, they found one true John Bull from the mother
country,--a stout, thick-set, florid-faced man of middle-age, not
over-intelligent but very earnest and enthusiastic. Leslie marked him as
a victim and began at him at once.

"I suppose you have not heard the telegraphic reports from Washington,
this morning?" he said to the Englishman, after some conversation with
reference to the battle had brought them to terms of speaking
acquaintance.

"No," answered the Englishman. "Anything of consequence?"

"I should think so!" said Leslie, very gravely. "War between the United
States and England, beyond a doubt."

"God bless my soul!" said John Bull. "No?"

"Sure as you live!" said Leslie, while Harding shook his head and
knitted his brows at him as a hint to be careful how far he went with
his mischief--a signal which was misinterpreted by some of the
bystanders to mean that he should not have betrayed the intelligence.
"Lord Lyons made a demand on Secretary Seward, yesterday morning, to
open the ports of Charleston and Savannah within twenty-four hours, for
the free exportation of cotton. Secretary Seward at once refused to open
them at all before the conclusion of the war or the First of January
1900; and Lord Lyons immediately exhibited his instructions to come
home by the first steamer if the demand was not acceded to. He left
Washington last evening, and will sail for England by the steamer of
to-morrow."

Some of the auditors--intelligent visitors from the hotels, and other
well-informed people, saw the joke and humored it. Others, prepared for
almost any item of startling news, and not too well up in national
affairs, took it all for sober earnest. John Bull was completely
mystified.

"Good heavens!" he said. "Can this be possible?"

"I must hurry back!" said Leslie, warming into broader mischief, and
pulling out his watch. "Non-intercourse between the two countries may be
proclaimed at any moment, and in that case I should be a prisoner!"

"God bless me" said the Englishman. "In that case I had better get over
to the International and look after getting part of my baggage that is
there, over on this side of the river!"

"I should advise you to do so at once," answered Leslie, quite as
gravely as before. "I wonder whether we shall be stopped on our