act that the boys were all looking at him in a very questioning
way, so he could not help feeling that there were drawbacks to being the
leader of a party when there is possible danger somewhere ahead, and it
is impossible for the sake of one's credit to retreat.

This is especially the case in connection with dogs that are supposed to
be mad and have to be driven away, or in haunted rooms, and the walking
of ghosts and other vapours of that kind which a puff of the wind of
common-sense would always blow away.

Somehow or other, Morris began to talk very loudly to his young
companions as he screwed his courage up to the sticking-point, feeling
as he did that at all hazards he must go right up to that opening and
just look through. And with this intent, followed not quite closely by
the boys, he went so near that he had but to take one more step to be
able to look through into the next field; in fact, he was in the act of
stretching out his hand to lay it upon one of the big oaken splints that
hung from its copper nail, when there was a sharp report as if a pistol
had been fired just on the other side, and in an instant the whole party
were in retreat.

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Morris. At least it was supposed to be a laugh;
but the sounds were very peculiar, and he looked strangely white as he
shouted, "Stop, boys, stop! What are you afraid of? It was only one of
those carter fellows who cracked his whip.--Well, my man," he continued,
in a husky voice that did not seem like his own, to one of the
van-drivers who now appeared in the opening, "have you caught the
elephant?"

As the man replied the boys began to collect again from their
ignominious flight, and it was observable that they were all laughing at
one another in an accusatory manner, each feeling full of contempt for
the pusillanimous behaviour of the others, while the looks of Morris
might have given the whole party a conscious sting.

But there was the van-driver answering as the boys clustered hurriedly
up.

"No, sir, and I've had enough of it," said the man. "It aren't my
business. I'm monkeys, I am; and got enough to do to keep they
mischievous imps in their cage. I don't hold with elephants; they are
too big for me, and I know that chap of old."

"Indeed!" said Morris, eager to cover his last retreat by drawing the
man into conversation.

"Yes, sir, he's a treacherous beggar. Pretends to be fond of a man, and
gets him up against a wall or th