mise of government seeds had greatly excited the old
fellow, and, three times before the breaking of day, did he get up and
look out, impatient of the darkness that still lay in the east. Warren
gave him the seeds and had gone down to see them off for home before
he happened to realize that Lyman was not in the office. He went up
stairs and inquired after him. The boy said that he had not come. He
sat down in a fear that his friend was lost in the woods, and was
thinking of setting out to look for him when Lyman walked in, looking
worn and tired.

"Why, what's the matter?" Warren cried. "You look like a whipped
rooster."

"I am," said Lyman sitting down. "A prop has been knocked from under
me and I have fallen down. For several days I have been nursing a
sweet revenge. I said nothing about it, but I was going to knock a
man down, tie him and horse-whip him."

"Well, why don't you? Is he gone?"

"Yes, beyond my reach. I thought that for once in my life I would act
the part of a very natural man, but it has been denied me. I will tell
you."

He narrated his adventure. Warren sat staring at him. "It's just your
luck, Lyman. But, why didn't you throw him back into the creek? Why
didn't you stamp him into the ground? And you have spoiled another
piece of news. What do you expect will become of you if you keep on
this way?"

"He mistook me for some one else--he called me Jim. I couldn't abuse
his drunken mistake and show him that I was not his friend Jim. It
would have been cruel. And when he recognized me he threw himself on
my mercy and begged me not to leave him. In a vague way, this morning,
he remembered all that had taken place. He is not much hurt, but the
doctor will keep him in bed for a day or two. He is completely cowed
and I felt sorry for him. He hung to my hand when I bade him good-bye
and tears ran out of his eyes. He declared that I had whipped him more
severely than if I had used a raw-hide, and I believe I have; so,
after all, I had my revenge."

"Lyman, I guess your sort of punishment lasts longer. But I confess
that I am not strong enough to indulge that sort of revenge. It takes
too much time. Well, if you haven't turned things over since you came
to this place I don't want a cent. Old Ebenezer didn't know what
novelty was until you struck it. We had a great time last night," he
went on, after a few moments of silence. "Nancy sang a song, a
come-all-ye about a girl that hanged herself because sh