aused by the weight of the tin
evidently annoyed him, and, wishing to get away from it, he ran the
faster.

Boom! boom! The biscuit-tin swung from side to side at every pace, and
each time it struck the ground with a noisy report which in itself was
sufficient to arouse the already alarmed town.

Then, the fuse having burned down, the crackers commenced business.
Bang! bang! Burr-rr--bang! Burr-rr--bang-bang-BANG! they went, the
vibrations of the tin adding volume to each detonation; and it would be
difficult indeed to imagine a better imitation of a distant fusillade.
The frightened hog only went the faster.

I was running behind, endeavouring to keep up with the pig, for I did
not wish to lose any of the fun; but he soon out-distanced me, although
I was fortunate enough to be within ear-shot when the crackers gave
their final kick.

Bang! bang! Burr--rr--bang! Bang! BANG!

Then began the fun. The inhabitants crowded to their doors to inquire
in which direction the attack on the town had commenced, and the
military were tearing hither and thither, like so many madmen. Big
generals in their shirt-sleeves galloped through the streets on little
horses, collecting their men; pieces of artillery were rushed out of the
barracks and held in readiness; scouts went out to reconnoitre in every
conceivable direction, and the military band, playing all the national
airs within their ken, paraded the public square, halting every now and
then so that an officer might read to the public the Commandante's
orders to the effect that all the inhabitants must remain indoors under
pain of all sorts of outrageous and impossible penalties.

In view of the latter, however, I deemed it wise to give up my chase and
return to my hotel, there to await developments; and as I retraced my
steps cries of _El enemigo! El enemigo!_ hailed me at almost every pace.
Hundreds of questions as to the whereabouts of the attacking forces were
hurled at me as I went, but I dared not stop to respond, or without a
doubt I should have betrayed myself. At the onset, boylike, I had
considered this a "splendid joke," but now the alarm was so widespread
that I did not know whether to feel startled by the result or flattered
to think I had succeeded in putting an entire town in an uproar.

I thought of the pleasure that would be experienced by the ordinary
"romp" at home were he able to make so vast an impression with his
everyday practical jokes; and it was to