he sailor trying to put his
wooden leg through the accordeon, and the Dutchmen industriously
striving to gouge Tim's glass eye out.

In the midst of the scuffle, a monkey and parrot came flying in from the
next room, howling like fiends.

The parrot was named Bismarck.

Whiskers was the name of the monkey.

Fritz owned the bird, and Tim claimed the animal.

They had once been captured in Africa by their masters.

Since then the sailor and Dutchman invariably took their pets off on the
expeditions they made in Jack's inventions.

Between Bismarck and Whiskers there existed a deep rooted enemity, which
always culminated in pitched battles.

The monkey had been chasing the parrot when Tim and Fritz got fighting,
and as these two creatures possessed more than ordinary intelligence,
they at once determined to take sides with their respective owners.

"Whee!" bowled Whiskers, and he hopped on top of Fritz's head, grabbed
him by the hair, and tried to pull it out by the roots.

"Mild up, Boilvar!" yelled the slangy bird, as he fastened his beak in
Tim's ear. "Waow! Whoop her up, boys! Cracker! Crack---"

Biff! went Tim's hand against Bismarck's head, interrupting him.

Bang! went Fritz fist against the monkey's neck sending him spinning.

"Wow!" screamed Whiskers.

"Root, you sucker, root!" yelled Bismarck.

Then he made a dive at the monkey, and as Whiskers scampered away, the
parrot flew after him, plunged his beak in Whiskers' tail, and away they
flew into the next room.

Just then Jack interrupted the fracas.

"Stop, boys, and attend to business!" he sung out.

Tim and Fritz were accustomed to obeying him, and ceasing hostilities at
once, they rose, and the old sailor asked solemnly:

"Goin' ter stop playin' if I stops yarnin'?"

"For sure, Mikes," replied Fritz. "Put it dere."

They shook hands and that settled the matter.

Work on the electric stage was resumed, and by noon they had her in
perfect condition for her long journey.

When they entered the house they met Jack's beautiful wife and bright
little son.

Answers had arrived from Missouri.

The governor wrote Jack the following lines:

"Mr. Jack Wright,--In reply to your letter I beg to assure you of my
heartfelt gratitude for your kind offer to try to apprehend the James
Boys and break up their villainous gang. These outlaws have too long
been a terror to the community, and there is not a decent man, woman or
child in the state who