when they were obliged to go to Sunday school, and to attend church twice was too much.  The main thing was that women would be sitting about everywhere with large baskets full of cake and unusually good cookies; these must be secured.  The Middle Lotters especially were against the morning church service.  To the surprise of all, big Churi voted for the church-going.  He had brought it about that the great, long-prepared battle day was fixed for Organ-Sunday, although many voices voted against it, and there were still some that did not agree with the arrangement, for they were sure that on the feast-day much else was to be seen and heard.  But Churi grew quite wild if anyone said a word against his plan, and they did not care to make him angry now, for no one could manage so many soldiers as he had to look after, and only thus could the victory be won.  The Middle Lotters had naturally joined the Lower Wooders against the Upper Wooders and so they were now a large army.  The Upper Wooders therefore made a new effort to get Edi for leader and to win the battle, for against such a large army only a well prepared battle-plan and a general well versed in war could save them, and Edi was the only one who knew how to do both.

But he remained steadfast, although it almost choked him, for all the brilliant examples of the small Greek army against the enormous hordes of Persians stood before him, and he had to swallow them all down, for he knew his father’s aversion to such warlike doings and then—­on Organ-Sunday!

Churi had ordered that his whole army should come together on the Friday before Organ-Sunday in the Middle Lot.  So the whole crowd collected on the evening fixed, and there was an indescribable noise.  But big Churi shouted the loudest and explained to them the arrangements of the day:  first, all would go to church, and during that time, he and his officers would go to find out the best place for camping and for the battle.

“Ah, so, Churi!” a little fellow in the crowd shouted, “that is why you voted for church, that you might do outside what you want to!”

Churi cried, much vexed:  “That must be on account of discipline; if you do not want to go, then don’t, and the Upper Wooders will pay you for it.”  This threat was effective, just as Churi wanted it to be.

The whole army should not come together until after the organ dedication was over in the morning, and the midday meal which followed at once, was finished; and in the morning only Churi with his officers should march out to arrange all places and positions.  So he had planned.  The officers whom he had chosen were all his good friends, the toughest Middle Lotters that could be found.