et, did not even hear her remark, and
took out from his coat-tail a little horsewhip, nicely rolled up.
Bonaparte winked at the little rhinoceros horsewhip, at the Boer-woman,
and then at the door.

"Shall we call him--Waldo, Waldo?" he said.

Tant Sannie nodded, and giggled. There was something so exceedingly
humorous in the idea that he was going to beat the boy, though for her
own part she did not see that the peaches were worth it. When the Kaffer
maid came with the wash-tub she was sent to summon Waldo; and Bonaparte
doubled up the little whip and put it in his pocket. Then he drew
himself up, and prepared to act his important part with becoming
gravity. Soon Waldo stood in the door, and took off his hat.

"Come in, come in, my lad," said Bonaparte, "and shut the door behind."

The boy came in and stood before them.

"You need not be so afraid, child," said Tant Sannie. "I was a child
myself once. It's no great harm if you have taken a few."

Bonaparte perceived that her remark was not in keeping with the nature
of the proceedings, and of the little drama he intended to act. Pursing
out his lips, and waving his hand, he solemnly addressed the boy.

"Waldo, it grieves me beyond expression to have to summon you for so
painful a purpose; but it is at the imperative call of duty, which I
dare not evade. I do not state that frank and unreserved confession will
obviate the necessity of chastisement, which if requisite shall be fully
administered; but the nature of that chastisement may be mitigated
by free and humble confession. Waldo, answer me as you would your own
father, in whose place I now stand to you; have you, or have you not,
did you, or did you not, eat of the peaches in the loft?"

"Say you took them, boy, say you took them, then he won't beat you
much," said the Dutchwoman, good-naturedly, getting a little sorry for
him.

The boy raised his eyes slowly and fixed them vacantly upon her, then
suddenly his face grew dark with blood.

"So, you haven't got anything to say to us, my lad?" said Bonaparte,
momentarily forgetting his dignity, and bending forward with a little
snarl. "But what I mean is just this, my lad--when it takes a boy
three-quarters of an hour to fill a salt-pot, and when at three o'clock
in the morning he goes knocking about the doors of a loft, it's natural
to suppose there's mischief in it. It's certain there is mischief in it;
and where there's mischief in, it must be taken out,"