“Didn’t you have the gun in your hand, Pomp?  Where did you get it?”

“I jest borrered it of Mass’ Frank, to play sojer a little while,” 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 me over!”

“I’m glad on’t,” said the old lady emphatically, with a grim air of satisfaction.  “That’ll l’arn you not to fire it off at your elders ag’in.  I’ve a great mind to box your ears, and sarve you right, too.”

Mrs. Payson advanced, to effect her purpose; but Pomp was wary, and, adroitly freeing himself from Mr. Morton’s grasp, butted at the old lady with such force that she would have fallen backward but for the timely assistance of Mr. Morton, who sprang to her side.  Her bag fell to the ground, and she struggled to regain her lost 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 a shock.  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. Payson gloomily.  “If Cynthy Ann only knew how her poor old ma’am had been treated!  I dunno as I shall live to get home!”

“Oh, yes, you will,” said the young man cheerfully, “and live to see a good many years more.  Would you like to have me attend you home?”

“I ain’t got strength to go so fur,” said Mrs. Payson, who had not given up her plan of taking tea out.  “I guess I could go as fur 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 detail of grievances; but it was observed that they did not materially affect her appetite at tea.

The offending musket was found by Frank under a tree, where Pomp had dropped it when it went off.

CHAPTER XXVIII.  JOHN HAYNES HAS A NARROW ESCAPE

John Haynes found the time hang heavily upon his hand after his withdrawal from the boys’ volunteer company.  All the boys with whom he had been accustomed to associate belonged to it, and in their interest could talk of nothing else.  To him, on the contrary, it was a disagreeable subject.  In the pleasant spring days the company came out twice a week, and went through company drill on the Common, under the command of Frank, or Captain Frost, as he was now called.

Had Frank shown himself incompetent, and made himself ridiculous by blunders, it would have afforded John satisfaction.  But Frank, thorough in all things, had so carefully prepared himself for his duties that he never made a mistake, and always acquitted himself so creditably and with such entire self-possession, that his praises were in every mouth.