As the visitor ceased speaking, he looked suspiciously at the three boys before him, two of whom seemed to be strangely affected by the recital of his thrilling adventures.  Frank had grown very red in the face, while Johnny was holding his handkerchief over his mouth, trying to restrain a violent fit of coughing with which he had suddenly been seized.  Archie was the only one who could keep a straight face.  He stood with his hands behind his back, his feet spread out, his sombrero pushed as far back on his head as he could get it, looking intently at Arthur, as if he were very much interested in what he was saying.  He came to the relief of the others, however, by observing: 

“If I had seen all those countries you speak of, Vane, I should be proud of it.  No one delights more in truthful stories of adventure than I do, and, if you have no objection, we will sit down here and talk, while Johnny saddles his horse.  We are going over to visit old Captain Porter.  You will go with us, of course?”

“Certainly.  I have often heard of Captain Porter, and I shall be pleased to make his acquaintance.  He and I can talk over our adventures, and you can listen, and you will, no doubt, learn something.”

Johnny, knowing that Frank wanted some excuse to get away where he could enjoy a hearty laugh, asked him to assist in catching his horse; and, together, they went toward the barn, leaving Archie behind to listen to Arthur’s stories.

CHAPTER IX.

An old boy.

By the exercise of wonderful self-control, Frank and Johnny succeeded in restraining their risibilities until they reached the barn, and then one leaned against the door-post, while the other seated himself upon the floor, both holding their sides, and giving vent to peals of uproarious laughter.

“O dear!” exclaimed Frank, “I shall never dare look that fellow in the face again.  ‘Icebergs of India!’ ‘Burning sands of Patagonia!’ How my jaws ache!”

“I wonder what part of Europe he visited to find his lions and tigers?” said Johnny.  “And how do you suppose he escaped from the Indians when they had him bound to the stake?  We must ask him about that.”

“How old is he?” inquired Frank.

“He says he is sixteen.”

“Well, he is older than that, if he risked his life in battles with the Algerians; for, if my memory serves me, Decatur settled our accounts with those gentlemen in the year 1815.  That would make our new friend old enough to be a grandfather.  He holds his age well, doesn’t he?”

Then the two boys looked up at the rafters, and laughed louder than ever.

“I remember of hearing old Captain Porter say,” observed Johnny, as soon as he could speak, “that the strongest and most active man that ever lived could not whip a grizzly in a fair fight; and that the bravest hunter would take to his heels if he found himself in close quarters with one of those animals, and would not think he was guilty of cowardice, either.”