Chapter XXVII. Pomp's Light Infantry Tactics

by Horatio Alger

　　Little Pomp continued to pursue his studies under Frank as ateacher. By degrees his restlessness diminished, and, findingFrank firm in exacting a certain amount of study before he woulddismiss him, he concluded that it was best to study in earnest,and so obtain the courted freedom as speedily as possible. Frankhad provided for his use a small chair, which he had himself usedwhen at Pomp's age, but for this the little contraband showed nogreat liking. He preferred to throw himself on a rug before theopen fire-place, and, curling up, not unlike a cat, began to poreover his primer.Frank often looked up from his own studies and looked down withan amused glance at little Pomp's coal-back face and glisteningeyes riveted upon the book before him. There was no lack ofbrightness or intelligence in the earnest face of his youngpupil. He seemed to be studying with all his might. In awonderfully short time he would uncoil himself, and, coming tohis teacher, would say, "I guess I can say it, Mass' Frank."Finding how readily Pomp learned his lessons, Frank judiciouslylengthened them, so that, in two or three months, Pomp could readwords of one syllable with considerable ease, and promised verysoon to read as well as most boys of his age.Frank also took considerable pains to cure Pomp of hismischievous propensities, but this he found a more difficult taskthan teaching him to read. Pomp had an innate love of fun whichseemed almost irrepressible, and his convictions of duty sat toolightly upon him to interfere very seriously with itsgratification. One adventure into which he was led came nearhaving serious consequences.Pomp, in common with other village boys of his age, had watchedwith considerable interest the boys 'company, as they drilledpublicly or paraded through the main street, and he had conceiveda strong desire to get hold of a musket, to see if he, too, couldnot go through with the manual.Frank generally put his musket carefully away, only bringing itout when it was needful. One morning, however, he had been out ona hunting-expedition, and on his return left the musket in thecorner of the shed.Pomp espied it when he entered the house, and resolved, ifpossible, to take temporary possession of it after his lesson wasover. Having this in view, he worked with an uncommon degree ofindustry, and in less time than usual had learned and said hislesson."Very well, Pomp," said his teacher approvingly. "You have workedunusually well to-day. If you keep on you will make quite ascholar some day."'I's improvin', isn't I?" inquired Pomp, with an appearance ofinterest."Yes, Pomp, you have improved rapidly. By and by you can teachyour mother how to read.""She couldn't learn, Mass' Frank. She's poor ignorant nigger.""You shouldn't speak so of your mother, Pomp. She's a good motherto you, and works hard to earn money to support you.""Yes, Mass' Frank," said Pomp, who was getting impatient to go."I guess I'll go home and help her."Frank thought that what he had said was producing a good effect.He did not know the secret of Pomp's haste.Pomp left the room, and, proceeding to the wood-shed, hastilypossessed himself of the musket. In a stealthy manner he creptwith it through a field behind the house, until he got into theneighboring woods.He found it a hard tug to carry the gun, which was heavier thanthose made at the present day. At length he reached an open spacein the woods, only a few rods from the road which led from thefarmhouse, past the shanty occupied by old Chloe. As this roadwas not much traveled, Pomp felt pretty safe from discovery, andaccordingly here it was that he halted, and made preparations togo through the manual."It begins dis yer way," said Pomp, after a little reflection.Grasping the musket with one hand he called out in an importanttone:" 'Tention, squab!"For the benefit of the uninitiated it may be explained that Pompmeant "Attention, squad!""S'port arms!"Pomp found it considerably easier to give the word of commandthan to obey it. With some difficulty he succeeded inaccomplishing this movement, and proceeded with the manual, withseveral original variations which would have astonished amilitary instructor.Meanwhile, though Pomp did not realize it, he was exposinghimself to considerable danger. The gun had been loaded withbuckshot in the morning, and the charge had not been withdrawn.It seemed to be the lot of poor Mrs. Payson to suffer fright ordisaster whenever she encountered Pomp, and this memorableafternoon was to make no exception to the rule."Cynthy Ann," she said to her daughter, in the afternoon, "Iguess I'll go and spend the arternoon with Mis' Forbes. I hain'tbeen to see her for nigh a month, and I calc'late she'll be gladto see me. Besides, she ginerally bakes Thursdays, an' mos'likely she'll have some hot gingerbread. I'm partic'larly fond ofgingerbread, an' she does know how to make it about the best ofanybody I know on. You needn't wait supper for me, Cynthy Ann,for ef I don't find Mis' Forbes to home I'll go on to Mis'Frost's."Mrs. Payson put on her cloak and hood, and, armed with thework-bag and the invariable blue cotton umbrella, sallied out.Mrs. Forbes lived at the distance of a mile, but Mrs. Payson wasa good walker for a woman of her age, and less than half an hourbrought her to the door of the brown farmhouse in which Mrs.Forbes lived.She knocked on the door with the handle of her umbrella. Thesummons was answered by a girl of twelve."How dy do, Betsy?" said Mrs. Payson. "Is your ma'am to home?""No, she's gone over to Webbington to spend two or three dayswith Aunt Prudence.""Then she won't be home to tea," said Mrs. Payson, considerablydisappointed."No, ma'am, I don't expect her before to-morrow.""Well, I declare for't, I am disapp'inted," said the old ladyregretfully. "I've walked a mile on puppus to see her. I'm mosttuckered out.""Won't you step in and sit down?""Well, I don't keer ef I do a few minutes. I feel like to drop.Do you do the cooking while you maam's gone?""No, she baked up enough to last before she went away.""You hain't got any gingerbread in the house?" asked Mrs. Payson,with subdued eagerness. "I always did say Mis' Forbes beat theworld at makin' gingerbread.""I'm very sorry, Mrs. Payson, but we ate the last for supper lastnight.""Oh, dear!" sighed the old lady, "I feel sort of faint--kindergone at the stomach. I didn't have no appetite at dinner, and Is'pose it don't agree with me walkin' so fur on an emptystomach.""Couldn't you eat a piece of pie?" asked Betsy sympathizingly."Well," said the old lady reflectively, "I don't know but I couldeat jest a bite. But you needn't trouble yourself. I hate to givetrouble to anybody.""Oh, it won't be any trouble," said Betsy cheerfully."And while you're about it," added Mrs. Payson, "ef you have gotany of that cider you give me when I was here before, I don'tknow but I could worry down a little of it.""Yes, we've got plenty. I'll bring it in with the pie.""Well," murmured the old lady, "I'll get something for mytrouble. I guess I'll go and take supper at Mis' Frost'sa'terward."Betsy brought in a slice of apple and one of pumpkin pie, and setthem down before the old lady. In addition she brought a generousmug of cider.The old lady's eyes brightened, as she saw this substantialrefreshment."You're a good gal, Betsy," she said in the overflow of heremotions. "I was saying to my darter yesterday that I wish allthe gals round here was as good and considerate as you be.""Oh, no, Mrs. Payson," said Betsy modestly. "I ain't any betterthan girls generally.""Yes, you be. There's my granddarter, Jane, ain't so respectfulas she'd arter be to her old grandma'am. I often tell her thatwhen she gets to have children of her own, she'll know what tisto be a pilgrim an' a sojourner on the arth without nobody toconsider her feelin's. Your cider is putty good." Here the oldlady took a large draft, and set down the mug with a sigh ofsatisfaction. "It's jest the thing to take when a body's tired.It goes to the right spot. Cynthy Ann's husband didn't have nonemade this year. I wonder ef your ma would sell a quart or two ofit.""You can have it and welcome, Mrs. Payson.""Can I jest as well as not? Well, that's kind. But I didn'texpect you to give it to me.""Oh, we have got plenty.""I dunno how I can carry it home," said the lady hesitatingly. "Iwonder ef some of your folks won't be going up our way within aday or two.""We will send it. I guess father'll be going up to-morrow.""Then ef you can spare it you might send round a gallon, an' efthere's anything to pay I'll pay for it."This little business arrangement being satisfactorily adjusted,and the pie consumed, Mrs. Payson got up and said she must begoing."I'm afraid you haven't got rested yet, Mrs. Payson.""I ain't hardly," was the reply; "but I guess I shall stop on theway at Mis' Frost's. Tell your ma I'll come up an' see her ag'inafore long.""Yes, ma'am.""An' you won't forget to send over that cider?""No, ma'am.""I'm ashamed to trouble ye, but their ain't anybody over to ourhouse that I can send. There's Tom grudges doin' anything for hisold grandma'am. A'ter all that I do for him, too! Good-by!"The old lady set out on her way to Mrs. Frost's.Her road lay through the woods, where an unforeseen danger lay inwait for her.Meanwhile Pomp was pursuing military science under difficulties.The weight of the musket made it very awkward for him to handle.Several times he got out of patience with it, and apostrophizedit in terms far from complimentary. At last, in one of hisawkward maneuvers, he accidentally pulled the trigger. Instantlythere was a loud report, followed by a piercing shriek from theroad. The charge had entered old Mrs. Payson's umbrella andknocked it out of her hand. The old lady fancied herself hit, andfell backward, kicking energetically, and screaming "murder" atthe top of her lungs.The musket had done double execution. It was too heavily loaded,and as it went off, 'kicked,' leaving Pomp, about as scared asthe old lady, sprawling on the ground.Henry Morton was only a few rods off when he heard the explosion.He at once ran to the old lady's assistance, fancying her hurt.She shrieked the louder on his approach, imagining that he was arobber, and had fired at her."Go away!" she cried, in affright. "I ain't got any money. I'm apoor, destitute widder!""What do you take me for?" inquired Mr. Morton, somewhat amazedat this mode of address."Ain't you a highwayman?" asked the old lady."If you look at me close I think you will be able to answer thatquestion for yourself."The old lady cautiously rose to a sitting posture, and,mechanically adjusting her spectacles, took a good look at theyoung man."Why, I declare for it, ef it ain't Mr. Morton! I thought 'twasyou that fired at me.""I hope you are not hurt," said Mr. Morton, finding a difficultyin preserving his gravity."I dunno," said the old lady dubiously, pulling up her sleeve,and examining her arm. "I don't see nothin'; but I expect I'vehad some injury to my inards. I feel as ef I'd had a shocksomewhere. Do you think he'll fire again?" she asked, with asudden alarm."You need not feel alarmed," was the soothing reply. "It was nodoubt an accident."Turning suddenly, he espied Pomp peering from behind a tree, witheyes and mouth wide open. The little contraband essayed a hastyflight; but Mr. Morton, by a masterly flank movement, came uponhim, and brought forward the captive kicking and struggling."Le' me go!" said Pomp. "I ain't done noffin'!""Didn't you fire a gun at this lady?""No," said Pomp boldly. "Wish I may be killed ef I did!""I know 'twas you--you--you imp!" exclaimed Mrs. Payson, inviolent indignation. "I seed you do it. You're the wust boy thatever lived, and you'll be hung jest as sure as I stan' here!""How did it happen, Pomp?" asked Mr. Morton quietly."It jest shooted itself!" said Pomp, in whom the old lady's wordsinspired a vague feeling of alarm. "I 'clare to gracious, Mass'Morton, it did!""Didn't you have the gun in your hand, Pomp? Where did you getit?""I jest borrered it of Mass' Frank, to play sojer a littlewhile," said Pomp reluctantly."Does he know that you have got it?""I 'clare I done forgot to tell him," said Pomp reluctantly."Will you promise never to touch it again?""Don't want to!" ejaculated Pomp, adding spitefully, "He kick meover!""I'm glad on't," said the old lady emphatically, with a grim airof satisfaction. "That'll l'arn you not to fire it off at yourelders ag'in. I've a great mind to box your ears, and sarve youright, too."Mrs. Payson advanced, to effect her purpose; but Pomp was wary,and, adroitly freeing himself from Mr. Morton's grasp, butted atthe old lady with such force that she would have fallen backwardbut for the timely assistance of Mr. Morton, who sprang to herside. Her bag fell to the ground, and she struggled to regain herlost breath."Oh!" groaned the old lady, gasping for breath, "he's mos'knocked the breath out of me. I sha'n't live long a'ter such ashock. I'm achin' all over. Why did you let him do it?""He was too quick for me, Mrs. Payson. I hope you feel better.""I dunno as I shall ever feel any better," said Mrs. Paysongloomily. "If Cynthy Ann only knew how her poor old ma'am hadbeen treated! I dunno as I shall live to get home!""Oh, yes, you will," said the young man cheerfully, "and live tosee a good many years more. Would you like to have me attend youhome?""I ain't got strength to go so fur," said Mrs. Payson, who hadnot given up her plan of taking tea out. "I guess I could go asfur as Mis' Frost's, an' mebbe some on you will tackle up an'carry me back to Cynthy Ann's a'ter tea."Arrived at the farmhouse, Mrs. Payson indulged in a long detailof grievances; but it was observed that they did not materiallyaffect her appetite at tea.The offending musket was found by Frank under a tree, where Pomphad dropped it when it went off.