it over the most frequent wins. Would you like t' see,
sergeant?'

The miners grinned, the troopers giggled, and the sergeant began to feel
huffy.

''Tention!' he cried. 'Who won this precious game?'

Devoy pinched hi chin tenderly and grimaced. It was hard to abandon the
glory of a well-won battle, but there was no option.

'It was a dthraw,' he said manfully.

'And what were you playing for?'

'Playin' for? Oh, fer natural love an' affection, nothin' more, barrin' a
few goats.'

'Goats, eh? Now look here, my fine fellow, we were told there was to be
riot and fighting here over those goats. I don't believe a word of your
cock-and-bull story about football, and for two pins I'd clap a few of
you where you wouldn't play again for some time to come. Now you'd all
better settle this goat business while my men are here, and take my
advice and drop football if you want to keep on the comfort able and airy
side of a gaol. Now then, you fellows from the Flat, round up your goats
and look slippy in getting out of this.'

Devoy was the picture of outraged innocence.

'Tut, tut, tut!' he said mournfully, 'an' see how they take off the
characther of dacent, paceable, lovin' min. 'Twas a tinder an' frindly
game we was playin', sergeant, but if ye will break it up, sure I'm a
law-abidin' man. We did intund t' axe the min av Cow Flat t' have the
bite an' sup wid us at the banquit this night, but we rispict the law,
an' we say nothin' agin it. But, sor, if ever yer men would be likun' a
game of football, we--'

'Get down, you ruffian!' said the sergeant, grinning, and rode his horse
at Devoy.

So the Great Goat Riot was settled, and under the eye of the sergeant and
his troopers the goats of Cow Flat were drafted from those of Waddy. It
was a difficult task, and was not accomplished without trouble and
argument and minor hostilities: but the judgment of the sergeant, who
seemed to be aware of the whole merits of the case, was final, so that in
due time the men of Cow Flat departed driving their goats before them,
and comparative peace fell upon Waddy once more.

CHAPTER XII.

ALL through the next day Waddy was very calm; it was repenting recent
rash actions and calculating laboriously. At the Drovers' Arms that
evening several members of the School Committee compared conclusions and
resolved that something must be done. It was evident that the youth of
the township, under the leadership of 'the boy Haddon,' had drag