all
sides of the episode, he opposed a new tranquillity gained from his
sudden ascent in importance. He made no answer to their clamour. When he
had reached the top of the fence, he called out commandingly: "Here you,
Johnnie, you and George, run an' git my gun! It's hangin' on th' pegs
over th' bench in th' shop."

At this terrible sentence, a shuddering cry broke from the women. The
boys named sped down the road, accompanied by a retinue of envious
companions.

Peter swung his legs over the rail and faced the woods again. He twisted
his head once to say: "Keep still, can't yeh? Quit scufflin' aroun'!"
They could see by his manner that this was a supreme moment. The group
became motionless and still. Later, Peter turned to say, "S-s-sh!" to a
restless boy, and the air with which he said it smote them all with awe.

The little boys who had gone after the gun came pattering along
hurriedly, the weapon borne in the midst of them. Each was anxious to
share in the honour. The one who had been delegated to bring it was
bullying and directing his comrades.

Peter said, "S-s-sh!" He took the gun and poised it in readiness to
sweep the cornfield. He scowled at the boys and whispered angrily: "Why
didn't yeh bring th' powder horn an' th' thing with th' bullets in? I
told yeh t' bring 'em. I'll send somebody else next time."

"Yeh didn't tell us!" cried the two boys shrilly.

"S-s-sh! Quit yeh noise," said Peter, with a violent gesture.

However, this reproof enabled other boys to recover that peace of mind
which they had lost when seeing their friends loaded with honours.

The women had cautiously approached the fence and, from time to time,
whispered feverish questions; but Peter repulsed them savagely, with an
air of being infinitely bothered by their interference in his intent
watch. They were forced to listen again in silence to the weird and
prophetic chanting of the insects and the mystic silken rustling of the
corn.

At last the thud of hurrying feet in the soft soil of the field came to
their ears. A dark form sped toward them. A wave of a mighty fear swept
over the group, and the screams of the women came hoarsely from their
choked throats. Peter swung madly from his perch, and turned to use the
fence as a rampart.

But it was the major. His face was inflamed and his eyes were glaring.
He clutched his rifle by the middle and swung it wildly. He was bounding
at a great speed for his fat, short body.

"It's