22 CHRONICLES OF A CLAY FABM. 



sight of the Level that curious-looking thing on 

 three sticks, worse than the old gentleman that 

 walks upon two. What if I could reconcile these 

 two great opposing authorities by one timely stroke 

 make him Master-of-arts on the spot, before the 

 eyes of all his men ? Shorter and less earned de- 

 grees have been taken in the world. The opportu- 

 nity was irresistible. I had it brought ; adjusted it ; 

 and told him to look through it and give me his 

 opinion of the Fall. If you ever saw a dog put his 

 nose to a wasp's nest, you may form some idea of the 

 mistrustful curiosity and hesitating aversion with 

 which he brought his face into close contact with his 

 arch-enemy. 



A long indescribable process ensued ; a most de- 

 termined effort to close the left eye with the right 

 hand then the right eye with the left hand then a 

 dead stillness, and a long fumbling breathless view 

 of the world turned upside down, and his men stand- 

 ing on their heads for the first time, in spite of the 

 forty years' experience to the contrary ; and then 



' Well I don't know but what you're right, Sir : 

 the Fall does want a leetle easing at the bottom ! ' 



The success was complete. In half an hour every 

 tile was uncovered. The men worked as men work 



