duty to come over and preach to the Wallencampers also, in
their school-house, and he did so.

I think that the Wallencampers regarded this, on the whole, as a doubtful
though entertaining move.

I do not think that they took any particular pains to harass or annoy the
Rev. Mr. Rivers. But they certainly did not restrict themselves in that
natural freedom which they always enjoyed on the occasions of their
spiritual feasts.

They attended, as usual--the old and the young, the good, the bad, the
indifferent, with a lively sprinkling of babies.

Though not a cold night, they kept the stove gorged with fuel. It roared
furiously. They were restless. They made signs audibly expressive of the
fact that the air of the room was insufferably close, and very audibly
slammed up the windows. They whispered and giggled; they went out and
came in, as they pleased. They drank a great deal of water. I remember
particularly, how at the most earnest and affecting part of the Rev. Mr.
Rivers' discourse, the immortal Estella, _alias_ the "Modoc," arose in
gawky innocence and all good faith from her seat immediately in front of
the speaker, and walked to the back part of the room to regale herself
with a draught.

The Baptist minister discharged a withering and conscientious reproof at
them through his nose.

Now, for, the Wallencampers to be reproved, however scathingly, by some
zealous and inspired individual of their own number, was considered, on
the whole, as an apt and appropriate thing, but to be reproved by the
"Nigger-camp" minister! When, after the meeting he walked with the Keeler
family back to the Ark, where he had been hospitably entertained, the
Wallencamp boys saw us depart in silent wrath, and I feared that
Treachery lay in wait for the Rev. Mr. Rivers.

He sat and talked with us at the Ark for an hour or more, perhaps, before
bidding us good-night, and during that time I caught glimpses of faces
that appeared at the window, and then vanished again instantly--familiar
faces, expressive of much scornful merriment. Now and then I heard a
smothered giggle outside, and a scrambling among the bushes. It was a
dark night. When the Rev. Mr. Rivers finally rose to depart, and had got
as far as the gate, he became helplessly entangled in a perfect network
of small ropes. He could neither advance nor recede. In a pitiable and
ignominious condition, he called to us for help.

"Those devilish boys!" said Grandpa, with religiou