CHAPTER XXVII. POMP'S LIGHT INFANTRY TACTICS
Little Pomp continued to pursue his studies under Frank as a teacher. Bydegrees his restlessness diminished, and, finding Frank firm in exactinga certain amount of study before he would dismiss him, he concluded thatit was best to study in earnest, and so obtain the courted freedom asspeedily as possible. Frank had provided for his use a small chair,which he had himself used when at Pomp's age, but for this the littlecontraband showed no great liking. He preferred to throw himself on arug before the open fire-place, and, curling up, not unlike a cat, beganto pore over his primer.
Frank often looked up from his own studies and looked down with anamused glance at little Pomp's coal-back face and glistening eyesriveted upon the book before him. There was no lack of brightness orintelligence in the earnest face of his young pupil. He seemed to bestudying with all his might. In a wonderfully short time he would uncoilhimself, and, coming to his teacher, would say, "I guess I can say it,Mass' Frank."
Finding how readily Pomp learned his lessons, Frank judiciouslylengthened them, so that, in two or three months, Pomp could read wordsof one syllable with considerable ease, and promised very soon to readas well as most boys of his age.
Frank also took considerable pains to cure Pomp of his mischievouspropensities, but this he found a more difficult task than teachinghim to read. Pomp had an innate love of fun which seemed almostirrepressible, and his convictions of duty sat too lightly upon himto interfere very seriously with its gratification. One adventure intowhich he was led came near having serious consequences.
Pomp, in common with other village boys of his age, had watched withconsiderable interest the boys 'company, as they drilled publicly orparaded through the main street, and he had conceived a strong desire toget hold of a musket, to see if he, too, could not go through with themanual.
Frank generally put his musket carefully away, only bringing it outwhen it was needful. One morning, however, he had been out on ahunting-expedition, and on his return left the musket in the corner ofthe shed.
Pomp espied it when he entered the house, and resolved, if possible, totake temporary possession of it after his lesson was over. Having thisin view, he worked with an uncommon degree of industry, and in less timethan usual had learned and said his lesson.
"Very well, Pomp," said his teacher approvingly. "You have workedunusually well to-day. If you keep on you will make quite a scholar someday."
"I's improvin', isn't I?" inquired Pomp, with an appearance of interest.
"Yes, Pomp, you have improved rapidly. By and by you can teach yourmother how to read."
"She couldn't learn, Mass' Frank. She's poor ignorant nigger."
"You shouldn't speak so of your mother, Pomp. She's a good mother toyou, and works hard to earn money to support you."
"Yes, Mass' Frank," said Pomp, who was getting impatient to go. "I guessI'll go home and help her."
Frank thought that what he had said was producing a good effect. He didnot know the secret of Pomp's haste.
Pomp left the room, and, proceeding to the wood-shed, hastily possessedhimself of the musket. In a stealthy manner he crept with it through afield behind the house, until he got into the neighboring woods.
He found it a hard tug to carry the gun, which was heavier than thosemade at the present day. At length he reached an open space in thewoods, only a few rods from the road which led from the farmhouse, pastthe shanty occupied by old Chloe. As this road was not much traveled,Pomp felt pretty safe from discovery, and accordingly here it was thathe halted, and made preparations to go through the manual.
"It begins dis yer way," said Pomp, after a little reflection.
Grasping the musket with one hand he called out in an important tone:
"'Tention, squab!"
For the benefit of the uninitiated it may be explained that Pomp meant"Attention, squad!"
"S'port arms!"
Pomp found it considerably easier to give the word of command thanto obey it. With some difficulty he succeeded in accomplishingthis movement, and proceeded with the manual, with several originalvariations which would have astonished a military instructor.
Meanwhile, though Pomp did not realize it, he was exposing himselfto considerable danger. The gun had been loaded with buckshot in themorning, and the charge had not been withdrawn.
It seemed to be the lot of poor Mrs. Payson to suffer fright or disasterwhenever she encountered Pomp, and this memorable afternoon was to makeno exception to the rule.
"Cynthy Ann," she said to her daughter, in the afternoon, "I guess I'llgo and spend the arternoon with Mis' Forbes. I hain't been to see herfor nigh a month, and I calc'late she'll be glad to see me. Besides,she ginerally bakes Thursdays, an' mos' likely she'll have some hotgingerbread. I'm partic'larly fond of gingerbread, an' she does know howto make it about the best of anybody I know on. You needn't wait supperfor me, Cynthy Ann, for ef I don't find Mis' Forbes to home I'll go onto Mis' Frost's."
Mrs. Payson put on her cloak and hood, and, armed with the work-bag andthe invariable blue cotton umbrella, sallied out. Mrs. Forbes lived atthe distance of a mile, but Mrs. Payson was a good walker for a woman ofher age, and less than half an hour brought her to the door of the brownfarmhouse in which Mrs. Forbes lived.
She knocked on the door with the handle of her umbrella. The summons wasanswered by a girl of twelve.
"How dy do, Betsy?" said Mrs. Payson. "Is your ma'am to home?"
"No, she's gone over to Webbington to spend two or three days with AuntPrudence."
"Then she won't be home to tea," said Mrs. Payson, considerablydisappointed.
"No, ma'am, I don't expect her before to-morrow."
"Well, I declare for't, I am disapp'inted," said the old ladyregretfully. "I've walked a mile on puppus to see her. I'm most tuckeredout."
"Won't you step in and sit down?"
"Well, I don't keer ef I do a few minutes. I feel like to drop. Do youdo the cooking while you maam's gone?"
"No, she baked up enough to last before she went away."
"You hain't got any gingerbread in the house?" asked Mrs. Payson, withsubdued eagerness. "I always did say Mis' Forbes beat the world atmakin' gingerbread."
"I'm very sorry, Mrs. Payson, but we ate the last for supper lastnight."
"Oh, dear!" sighed the old lady, "I feel sort of faint--kinder gone atthe stomach. I didn't have no appetite at dinner, and I s'pose it don'tagree with me walkin' so fur on an empty stomach."
"Couldn't you eat a piece of pie?" asked Betsy sympathizingly.
"Well," said the old lady reflectively, "I don't know but I could eatjest a bite. But you needn't trouble yourself. I hate to give trouble toanybody."
"Oh, it won't be any trouble," said Betsy cheerfully.
"And while you're about it," added Mrs. Payson, "ef you have got any ofthat cider you give me when I was here before, I don't know but I couldworry down a little of it."
"Yes, we've got plenty. I'll bring it in with the pie."
"Well," murmured the old lady, "I'll get something for my trouble. Iguess I'll go and take supper at Mis' Frost's a'terward."
Betsy brought in a slice of apple and one of pumpkin pie, and set themdown before the old lady. In addition she brought a generous mug ofcider.
The old lady's eyes brightened, as she saw this substantial refreshment.
"You're a good gal, Betsy," she said in the overflow of her emotions."I was saying to my darter yesterday that I wish all the gals round herewas as good and considerate as you be."
"Oh, no, Mrs. Payson," said Betsy modestly. "I ain't any better thangirls generally."
"Yes, you be. There's my granddarter, Jane, ain't so respectful as she'darter be to her old grandma'am. I often tell her that when she gets tohave children of her own, she'll know what tis to be a pilgrim an' asojourner on the arth without nobody to consider her feelin's. Yourcider is putty good." Here the old lady took a large draft, and set downthe mug with a sigh of satisfa
ction. "It's jest the thing to take whena body's tired. It goes to the right spot. Cynthy Ann's husband didn'thave none made this year. I wonder ef your ma would sell a quart or twoof it."
"You can have it and welcome, Mrs. Payson."
"Can I jest as well as not? Well, that's kind. But I didn't expect youto give it to me."
"Oh, we have got plenty."
"I dunno how I can carry it home," said the lady hesitatingly. "I wonderef some of your folks won't be going up our way within a day or two."
"We will send it. I guess father'll be going up to-morrow."
"Then ef you can spare it you might send round a gallon, an' ef there'sanything to pay I'll pay for it."
This little business arrangement being satisfactorily adjusted, and thepie consumed, Mrs. Payson got up and said she must be going.
"I'm afraid you haven't got rested yet, Mrs. Payson."
"I ain't hardly," was the reply; "but I guess I shall stop on the way atMis' Frost's. Tell your ma I'll come up an' see her ag'in afore long."
"Yes, ma'am."
"An' you won't forget to send over that cider?"
"No, ma'am."
"I'm ashamed to trouble ye, but their ain't anybody over to ourhouse that I can send. There's Tom grudges doin' anything for his oldgrandma'am. A'ter all that I do for him, too! Good-by!"
The old lady set out on her way to Mrs. Frost's.
Her road lay through the woods, where an unforeseen danger lay in waitfor her.
Meanwhile Pomp was pursuing military science under difficulties. Theweight of the musket made it very awkward for him to handle. Severaltimes he got out of patience with it, and apostrophized it in termsfar from complimentary. At last, in one of his awkward maneuvers, heaccidentally pulled the trigger. Instantly there was a loud report,followed by a piercing shriek from the road. The charge had enteredold Mrs. Payson's umbrella and knocked it out of her hand. The oldlady fancied herself hit, and fell backward, kicking energetically, andscreaming "murder" at the top of her lungs.
The musket had done double execution. It was too heavily loaded, and asit went off, 'kicked,' leaving Pomp, about as scared as the old lady,sprawling on the ground.
Henry Morton was only a few rods off when he heard the explosion. He atonce ran to the old lady's assistance, fancying her hurt. She shriekedthe louder on his approach, imagining that he was a robber, and hadfired at her.
"Go away!" she cried, in affright. "I ain't got any money. I'm a poor,destitute widder!"
"What do you take me for?" inquired Mr. Morton, somewhat amazed at thismode of address.
"Ain't you a highwayman?" asked the old lady.
"If you look at me close I think you will be able to answer thatquestion for yourself."
The old lady cautiously rose to a sitting posture, and, mechanicallyadjusting her spectacles, took a good look at the young man.
"Why, I declare for it, ef it ain't Mr. Morton! I thought 'twas you thatfired at me."
"I hope you are not hurt," said Mr. Morton, finding a difficulty inpreserving his gravity.
"I dunno," said the old lady dubiously, pulling up her sleeve, andexamining her arm. "I don't see nothin'; but I expect I've had someinjury to my inards. I feel as ef I'd had a shock somewhere. Do youthink he'll fire again?" she asked, with a sudden alarm.
"You need not feel alarmed," was the soothing reply. "It was no doubt anaccident."
Turning suddenly, he espied Pomp peering from behind a tree, with eyesand mouth wide open. The little contraband essayed a hasty flight; butMr. Morton, by a masterly flank movement, came upon him, and broughtforward the captive kicking and struggling.
"Le' me go!" said Pomp. "I ain't done noffin'!"
"Didn't you fire a gun at this lady?"
"No," said Pomp boldly. "Wish I may be killed ef I did!"
"I know 'twas you--you--you imp!" exclaimed Mrs. Payson, in violentindignation. "I seed you do it. You're the wust boy that ever lived, andyou'll be hung jest as sure as I stan' here!"
"How did it happen, Pomp?" asked Mr. Morton quietly.
"It jest shooted itself!" said Pomp, in whom the old lady's wordsinspired a vague feeling of alarm. "I 'clare to gracious, Mass' Morton,it did!"
"Didn't you have the gun in your hand, Pomp? Where did you get it?"
"I jest borrered it of Mass' Frank, to play sojer a little while," saidPomp reluctantly.
"Does he know that you have got it?"
"I 'clare I done forgot to tell him," said Pomp reluctantly.
"Will you promise never to touch it again?"
"Don't want to!" ejaculated Pomp, adding spitefully, "He kick me over!"
"I'm glad on't," said the old lady emphatically, with a grim air ofsatisfaction. "That'll l'arn you not to fire it off at your eldersag'in. I've a great mind to box your ears, and sarve you right, too."
Mrs. Payson advanced, to effect her purpose; but Pomp was wary, and,adroitly freeing himself from Mr. Morton's grasp, butted at the old ladywith such force that she would have fallen backward but for the timelyassistance of Mr. Morton, who sprang to her side. Her bag fell to theground, and she struggled to regain her lost breath.
"Oh!" groaned the old lady, gasping for breath, "he's mos' knocked thebreath out of me. I sha'n't live long a'ter such a shock. I'm achin' allover. Why did you let him do it?"
"He was too quick for me, Mrs. Payson. I hope you feel better."
"I dunno as I shall ever feel any better," said Mrs. Payson gloomily."If Cynthy Ann only knew how her poor old ma'am had been treated! Idunno as I shall live to get home!"
"Oh, yes, you will," said the young man cheerfully, "and live to see agood many years more. Would you like to have me attend you home?"
"I ain't got strength to go so fur," said Mrs. Payson, who had notgiven up her plan of taking tea out. "I guess I could go as fur asMis' Frost's, an' mebbe some on you will tackle up an' carry me back toCynthy Ann's a'ter tea."
Arrived at the farmhouse, Mrs. Payson indulged in a long detail ofgrievances; but it was observed that they did not materially affect herappetite at tea.
The offending musket was found by Frank under a tree, where Pomp haddropped it when it went off.