ed it. Soon as I got from sight of
the house I made a powderhorn of a curled leaf, loaded my gun with
portulaca powder, rammed in a tiger lily bullet, laid the weapon across
my shoulder, and stepped high and lightly as Laddie does when he's in
the Big Woods hunting for squirrel. It must have been my own
singing--I am rather good at hearing things, but I never noticed a
sound that time, until a voice like a rusty saw said: "Good morning,
Nimrod!"

I sprang from the soft dust and landed among the dog fennel of a fence
corner, in a flying leap. Then I looked. It was the Princess' father,
tall, and gray, and grim, riding a big black horse that seemed as if it
had been curried with the fine comb and brushed with the grease rag.

"Good morning!" I said when I could speak.

"Am I correct in the surmise that you are on the chase with a popgun?"
he asked politely.

"Yes sir," I answered, getting my breath the best I could.

It came easier after I noticed he didn't seem to be angry about
anything.

"Where is your hunting ground, and what game are you after?" he asked
gravely.

"You can see the great African jungle over there. I am going to hunt
for lions and tigers."

You always must answer politely any one who speaks to you; and you get
soundly thrashed, at least at our house, if you don't be politest of
all to an older person especially with white hair. Father is extremely
particular about white hair. It is a "crown of glory," when it is
found in the way of the Lord. Mahlon Pryor had enough crown of glory
for three men, but maybe his wasn't exactly glory, because he wasn't in
the way of the Lord. He was in a way of his own. He must have had
much confidence in himself. At our house we would rather trust in the
Lord. I only told him about the lions and tigers because he asked me,
and that was the way I played. But you should have heard him laugh.
You wouldn't have supposed to see him that he could.

"Umph!" he said at last. "I am a little curious about your ammunition.
Just how to you bring down your prey?"

"I use portulaca powder and tiger lily bullets on the tigers, and four
o'clocks on the lions," I said.

You could have heard him a mile, dried up as he was.

"I used to wear a red coat and ride to the hounds fox hunting," he
said. "It's great sport. Won't you take me with you to the jungle?"

I didn't want him in the least, but if any one older asks right out to
go with you, what can you do?