Mr. Carleton picked up his hat, and turned around, hardly expecting to see any one. To his surprise, however, a tall, well-developed lad of fifteen or sixteen years, stood on the nearest corner, with a stone in his right hand, while back of him was a squad of boys of all ages and sizes, from whom the shouts came. "Well, parson," the boy with the stone coolly asked, "how was that for a shot?" Amused at the boy's audacity, Mr. Carleton replied: "It certainly was well done; but what if the stone had struck my head?" "No fear of that, parson," the lad promptly answered. "Put on your hat, and I'll take it off again without hurting a hair of your head." Without the slightest hesitation, Mr. Carleton put on his hat, saying: "All right! I am ready." With a quick, sharp jerk the stone left the boy's hand, and again the hat went spinning several yards away. Mr. Carleton again picked it up, and walked slowly toward the boy. "May I ask your name?" he inquired. "Ray Branford." "Well, Ray, have you ever heard the story of William Tell, who shot his arrow through an apple on his own boy's head." "No, sir." In as interesting manner as possible Mr. Carleton told the story to the boys, who without fear drew around him. "That was good," Ray commented, when he had finished. "I believe I could have done that." "I think you could have done it with practice; for your present feat shows that you have a keen eye and a steady arm," said Mr. Carleton; "but I know another story of a mere lad who, with a single stone in a sling, killed a great giant." "Was it Jack the Giant Killer?" asked one of the boys. "If 'twas, I've read him." "No," replied the minister, suppressing a smile; "his name was David, and he lived in Bible times, and by slaying this giant he saved his country from the enemy." "I'd like to hear about it, sir," said Ray, respectfully. "I can kill a bird with a sling; I have often done it." "I wouldn't do it any more," said Mr. Carleton; "for it is cruel to kill them just for the fun of the thing. But it happens that next Sunday our lesson in the Bible school is about this David and the giant he killed. The school meets at twelve o'clock. How many of you boys will come up there and hear about it?" "I will," said Ray, promptly. None of the other lads, however, would give the promise; so, telling Ray he would be on the lookout for him, Mr. Carleton walked rapidly off toward home. Ray looked after him until he had disappeared; then, turning to his companions, he said, with marked emphasis on his words: "Fellows, that parson is a brick; and I want you to understand he is to come and go around these mills as he pleases, without any interference from any of you. The first one of you I hear of abusing him, I'll souse you in the ditch, no matter when it is, or who ye are." And having delivered his message with the air of one who expected implicit obedience, he went up a side street, and entered a house standing near the stream.