The Riverpark Rebellion

, and swung themselves over lightly, while others unable to do this ran alo

this narrow aperture. Plumpy tried to get through here, but succeeded only in getting himself wedged ti

it to the top of the fence. Here he hung for a moment in ludicrous suspense, sawing the air with his hands, kicking lustily with both fee

He scrambled hastily to his feet, and ran clumsily after his comrades, who were gathered again into a single body, and were maki

whole day before them for pleasure. They talked and laughed loudly as

them with a horse and buggy. On looking around, they did see a horse and buggy approaching them, but the m

wed lumber, and the boys amused themselves for a short time running over the little vessel, and watching the dock-hands at their work. Some one proposed a boa

and follow it down the river, keeping a sharp lookout

of the sun. It gave him a comical appearance, and some of the larger boys began to make fun of him. The little fellow wante

's mind. Now that the step had been taken, the breach made, now that it was too late to tur

d into evil by the example and persuasion of such fellows as he,-fellows old enough

he bank while the trains flashed by. Brede went on ahead, talking loudly, coarsely at times

farther opening indicated that it was also very long. Some of the more foolhardy were for pushing on through it; but the timid ones stoutly demurred,

f a piece of woods, and they turned up it toward the highway; but the unfenced woods along this route were so c

ountry stillness was scarcely broken by their noise. For most of them, indeed, this quiet hour among the shadows of the forest was the only

number had thought to bring. There was no sign of serious thought in his face, nor of genuine enjoyment. He felt that he

y to attention by the remark, "I'm

o be nearly noon. Every one was hungry, and every one said so. Then

e main road, and it was resolved to go there. But who would buy the things to eat? This question led to the

e out, an' give all the money he's got to one fellow. I should say give it to Captain Brede,-he's th

idently not empty, "some'll be givin' twice

with an answer t

ve anything,-not now. An' when we get back, we'll figure up what it all cost, an' then e

mpany, and all hands were immediatel

onal currency, was six dollars and fifty-four cents. Brede took the money, and the boys resumed their march. They went up to the highway, and turned

s spokesman f

plained, "and we want a little someth

it for a minute, looking at the crowd that filled the space betwe

e've got crackers an' cheese, an' that's abo

e, "what do you say? Shall

d the captain turned a

your crackers and

llin' a pound, an' chee

unds do you think

rackers an' a couple or three pounds o' cheese;

ht, weig

liberally that it was not a great while before a fresh supply was called for. Brede paid for the lunch with an important air, and the storekeeper

git for ye, young g

, "and some nuts and fruit; and I desire to remind you, as delicately as po

the shouts and laughter of the other boys soon co

, were in favor of turning back up the road toward Riverpark. They calculated that it would be almost time for retreat before they could reach there, if they should start immediate

ry an' see the circus. 'Taint but a few mile below here. Them's the advertisements up there,

this day it presented a suggestive attractiveness that was wholly irresistible.

ying crowd of boys as they moved along the highway, their faces still turned toward the south. The road was broad and smooth, and the anticipation of unusu

ng from the tent-tops, before even the outskirts of the town came upon their view. Finally Brede, who

red, dusty, and perspiring, and glad enough to get a minute's respite f

ng thought ca

take us all in?" he asked.

sleeve of his white cuff. "Four dollar

t cost to get in

promptly. "Fif

questioner, "that'd be-

ly, marking again on his cuff, "twenty

ternation came

it. There would be some excuse now for turning back toward home. He feared lest the com

arative silence, "there are half of us who

ve schools a reduct

f-out by this time, anyway," sa

wholly quench the spirit of fun. "Plumpy's as big as any five of us, an' it'd cost two dol

reading the story of

tes for a freak!" he exclaimed, "

ich Plumpy joined, and after that the fa

"there's no time for fooling. S

swer from nearly e

along,

and to their ears came faintly the inspiring strains of music from the band. They hurried on, to find that the circus-tents were set up in the southerly su

e managers, who chanced to be in the ticket-seller's wa

?" he asked. Brede told him. "Well

ing down from the wagon, he continued: "N

main tent, and piloted them to seats in the h

anything seemed to derive some pleasure from the exhibition. But poor little Patchy, overcome by heat and

e performance, it was nearly six o'clock. Struggling away from the outpouring

thirty-three cents,-not enough to hire conveyances to take them to Riverpark; not enough to pay their passage by either boat or cars; not enough to pay for beds to sleep on here; not even

impossibility of getting these foot-sore lads back to Riverpark through the darkness of night, and could suggest

ame was Glück, and he was of German descent. His home was in the city of

ow here. If you boys have a mind to go over there with me, we can get a roof to sl

ained sullen and silent. The party moved up the street and then down to the dock. There was a row-boat ferry

as due at New Hornbury in about ten minutes, he became animated with a sudden desire to get the boats loa

pushed off, and the strong young man who managed it was heading it down the river agai

ede, still standing o

' yourself?" i

sh off,

foaming water between the boat and the landing. Then some one,

ot the

n the forward boat. He took

owers; "stop! turn back-b

whole party understood the meaning of his conduct now, and every breast was filled with s

ed speedily to the landing. Brightly leaped lightly to the dock, and, followed by a half-doz

led up at the station. He knew that if he could reach it and get on board, he could protect himself from hi

ty feet ahead of him; but behind him he heard fleet steps and