“Quit fixing' the judge, Al,” said Leola's backer. “Reub forgets his words, an' says 'em over, an' balks, an' mires down, an' backs out, an starts fresh, en' it's confusin' to foller him.” “I'm glad to see you take so much interest, gentlemen,” said I. “Yes, we're apt to see it through,” said the barkeeper. And Stuart and I bade them a good-morning. As we neared the school-master's house, where Stuart was next taking me, we came again upon the boys with Josey, and no barkeeper at hand to “see him through.” But Josey made it needless. At the word “Chicken-legs” he flew in a limber manner upon the nearest, and knocking him immediately flat, turned with spirit upon a second and kicked him. At this they set up a screeching and fell all together, and the school-master came out of his door. “Boys, boys!” said he. “And the Sabbath too!” As this did not immediately affect them, Mr. Eastman made a charge, and they fled from him then. A long stocking of Josey's was torn, and hung in two streamers round his ankles; and his dangling shoe-laces were trodden to fringe. “If you want your hand to get well for strawberry night--” began Mr. Eastman. “Ah, bother strawberry night!” said Josey, and hopped at one of his playmates. But Mr. Eastman caught him skilfully by the collar. “I am glad his misfortunes have not crushed him altogether,” said I. “Josey Yeatts is an anxious case, sir,” returned the teacher. “Several influences threaten his welfare. Yesterday I found tobacco on him. Chewing, sir.” “Just you hurt me,” said Josey, “and I'll tell Abe.” “Abe!” exclaimed Mr. Eastman, lifting his brow. “He means a man old enough to be his father, sir. I endeavor to instill him with some few notions of respect, but the town spoils him. Indulges him completely, I may say. And when Sharon's sympathies are stirred sir, it will espouse a cause very warmly--Give me that!” broke off the schoolmaster, and there followed a brief wrestle. “Chewing again to-day, sir,” he added to me. “Abe lemme have it,” shrieked Josey. “Lemme go, or he'll come over and fix you.” But the calm, chilly Eastman had ground the tobacco under his heel. “You can understand how my hands are tied,” he said to me. “Readily,” I answered. “The men give Josey his way in everything. He has a--I may say an unworthy aunt.” “Yes,” said I. “So I have gathered.” At this point Josey ducked and slid free, and the united flock vanished with jeers at us. Josey forgot they had insulted him, they forgot he had beaten them; against a common enemy was their friendship cemented. “You spoke of Sharon's warm way of espousing causes,” said I to Eastman. “I did, sir. No one could live here long without noticing it.” “Sharon is a quiet town, but sudden,” remarked Stuart. “Apt to be sudden. They're beginning about strawberry night,” he said to Eastman. “Wanted to know about things down in the saloon.” “How does their taste in elocution chiefly lie?” I inquired.