u are a little angel, sure enough! and Master William
is as brave as a lion. To think of his stopping that great creetur, to
be sure! Wherever in the world it came from is the mystery." So saying,
Mrs. Lockitt bustled out of the room, and after she had gone, there was
a very serious and grateful talk among the elder boys about the escape
they had had, and a sincere thankfulness to God for having preserved
their lives.

The puzzle now was, how they were to return to the camp, where poor Tom
had been in captivity all this time. It was certainly necessary to get
back--but then the bull! While they were yet deliberating on the horns
of this dilemma, the library door suddenly opened, and in walked--Mr.
Schermerhorn!

"Why, boys!" he exclaimed, "how do you come to be here? Fred, what's the
matter? you look as pale as a ghost!"

There was general silence for a moment; but these boys had been taught
by pious parents to speak the truth always, whatever came of it. Ah!
that is the right principle to go on, dear children; TELL THE TRUTH when
you have done anything wrong, even if you are sure of being punished
when that truth is known.

So George, as the eldest, with one brave look at his comrades, frankly
related everything that had happened; beginning at the quarrel with
Tom, down to the escape from the bull. To describe the varied expression
of his auditor's face between delight and vexation, would require a
painter; and when George at last said, "Do you think we deserve to be
punished, sir? or have we paid well enough already for our court
martial?" Mr. Schermerhorn exclaimed, trying to appear highly incensed,
yet scarcely able to help smiling:

"I declare I hardly know! I certainly am terribly angry with you. How
dare you treat a young gentleman so on my place? answer me that, you
scapegraces! It is pretty plain who is at the bottom of all this--Peter
dares not look at me, I perceive. At the same time, I am rather glad
that Master Tom has been taught what to expect if he runs down the
Union--it will probably save him from turning traitor any more, though
you were not the proper persons to pass sentence on him. As for our
plucky little Colonel here--shake hands, Freddy! you have acted like a
hero! and for your sake I excuse the court martial. Now, let us see what
has become of the bull, and then go to the release of our friend Tom. He
must be thoroughly repentant for his misdeeds by this time."

Mr. Schermerhorn accordin