EVERYDAY ADVENTURES 



sorted sounds ever heard outside of a ship-yard. 

 Right in the middle of it, the door burst open, and in 

 rushed Minnie, the cook, with a dipper of water, 

 under the impression that her favorite fear of fire had 

 at last come to pass. Close behind her was the 

 Quartermaster- General, sometimes known as Mother, 

 while almost at the same instant old John, the gar- 

 dener, ran up on the porch with an axe, shouting 

 hopefully, "Hould him! I'm comin'!" under the 

 impression that there was a fight of sorts well under 

 way. 



The voting stopped suddenly, and the Captain 

 looked quite ashamed as he explained. Mother 

 pretended to be very indignant. 



"Some day," she said, "you'll all be in terrible 

 danger and you ' 11 shout and yell and scream and 

 bellow for help but not one of us will come, will we, 

 John?" 



"Divil a step," called back John, as he clumped 

 disappointedly down the steps, his unused axe over 

 his shoulder. 



The Quartermaster-General agreed to withdraw 

 her threat only after the Captain had pledged the 

 honor of the Band that there should be no further 

 disgustful noises within the house. Thereafter there 

 were hurryings and skurryings and dashings to and 

 fro, in . preparation for the great adventure. Honey 

 put fresh rubbers on his trusty sling-shot, with 

 which he could frequently hit a barn-door at five 

 paces. Trottie oiled up the air-rifle, which he was 

 only allowed to use in windowless wildernesses. 



