d the pig rolled over and expired.

[Illustration: HOW THE PIG WAS KILLED]

"What in the mischief d'you do that for?" exclaimed Keyser, amazed and
indignant.

"Do it for? _I_ didn't do it! This cane must've been made out of an
old gun-barrel with the load left in. I never had the least idea, I
pledge _you_ my word, that there was anything the matter with it."

"That's pretty thin," said Keyser; "you had a grudge agin that pig
because you couldn't scare up a pig like him, and you killed him on
purpose."

"That's perfectly ridiculous."

"Oh, maybe it is. You'll just fork over two hundred dollars for that
piece of pork, if you please."

"I'll see you in Egypt first."

* * * * *

Peter whipped; but if Keyser _did_ give in first, Peter went home with
a bleeding nose, and the next day he was arrested for killing the
pig. The case is coming up soon, and Peter's brother is on, ready to
testify about that cane. Peter himself walks now with a hickory stick.

CHAPTER XIV.

_RESPECTING CERTAIN SAVAGES_.

When young Mr. Spooner, Judge Twiddler's nephew, left college, he made
up his mind to enter the ministry and become a missionary. One day he
met Captain Hubbs; and when he mentioned that he thought of going out
as a missionary, Captain Hubbs asked him, "Where are you going?"

_S_. "To the Navigator Islands. I sail in October."

_Capt_. (shaking his head mournfully). "Pore young man! Pore young
man! It is too bad--too bad indeed! Going to the Navigator Islands!
Not married yet, I reckon? No? Ah! so much the better. No wife and
children to make widows and orphans of. But it's sad, anyway. A
promising young fellow like you! My heart bleeds for you."

_S_. "What d'you mean?"

_Capt_. "Oh, nothing. I don't want to frighten you. I know you're
doing it from a sense of duty. But I've been there to the Navigator
Islands, and I'm acquainted with the people's little ways, and
I--well, I--I--the fact is, you see, that--well, sooner'n disguise the
truth, I don't mind telling you straight out that the last day I was
there the folks et one of my legs--sawed it off an' et it. Now you can
see how things are yourself. Those Navigators gobbled that leg right
up. It was a leg a good deal like yours, only heavier, I reckon."

_S_. "You astonish me!"

_Capt._ "Oh, that's nothing. They did that just for a little bit of
fun. The chief told me the day before that they never et anything but
huma