s
possession fifteen years, some with rusty nails, buckles, and bits of
old harness--in all, a wonderful assortment, but highly prized.

"We have something here not so bad," said the German, smiling knowingly,
as he dived his hand into the bag and took out a handful of almonds and
raisins; "I buy these for my chickens. They increase in size, but they
still think the old man must have something nice for them. And the old
man--well, a big boy may have a sweet tooth sometimes, may he not? Ha,
ha!" said the German, chuckling at his own joke, as he heaped the plate
with almonds. "Here is a stone--two stones to crack them--no late patent
improvement--well, Adam's nut-cracker; ha, ha! But I think we shall
do. We will not leave them uncracked. We will consume a few without
fashionable improvements."

Here the German sat down on one side of the table, Bonaparte on the
other; each one with a couple of flat stones before him, and the plate
between them.

"Do not be afraid," said the German, "do not be afraid. I do not forget
the boy at the fire; I crack for him. The bag is full. Why, this is
strange," he said suddenly, cracking upon a large nut; "three kernels! I
have not observed that before. This must be retained. This is valuable."
He wrapped the nut gravely in paper, and put it carefully in his
waistcoat pocket. "Valuable, very valuable!" he said, shaking his head.

"Ah, my friend," said Bonaparte, "what joy it is to be once more in your
society."

The German's eyes glistened, and Bonaparte seized his hand and squeezed
it warmly. They then proceeded to crack and eat. After a while Bonaparte
said, stuffing a handful of raisins into his mouth:

"I was so deeply grieved, my dear friend, that you and Tant Sannie had
some slight unpleasantness this evening."

"Oh, no, no," said the German; "it is all right now. A few sheep
missing; but I make it good myself. I give my twelve sheep, and work in
the other eight."

"It is rather hard that you should have to make good the lost sheep,"
said Bonaparte; "it is no fault of yours."

"Well," said the German, "this is the case. Last evening I count the
sheep at the kraal--twenty are missing. I ask the herd; he tells me they
are with the other flock; he tells me so distinctly; how can I think he
lies? This afternoon I count the other flock. The sheep are not there. I
come back here: the herd is gone; the sheep are gone. But I cannot--no,
I will not--believe he stole them," said the