UNIVERSITY OF «^W4U\KGUNA mr % — ; u ei v ek up f ics School of Library ARN&i%tt4.NAVY STORIES. A Library for Youn^ and Old, in six volumes. 16mo. Illustrated. Per vol., $1.50. The Sailor Roy, or Jack Somers in the Navy. The Yankees Middy, or Adventures of a Naval Officer. Brave Old Salt, or Life on the Quarter Deck. The Soldier Boy, or Tom Somers in the Army. The Young Lieutenant, Or The Adventures of an Army Officer. Fighting Joe, or the Fortunes of a Staff Officer. " The writings of Oliver Optic are the most pe- culiarly fitted for juvenile readers of a.uy works now published. There is a freshness and vivacity about them which is very engaging to older read- ers. The benefit which a young mind will ob- tain from reading the healthy descriptions, full of zest and life, and, withal, containing a great deal of very useful information, is almost incalcula- ble," — Toledo Blade. LEE & SHEPARO, Publishers, Boston. OLIVER OPTIC'S RIVERDALE STORIES. Twelve volumes. Profusely illustrated from new designs by Billings. In neat box. Cloth. Per vol., 45 c. Hiittle Merchant. Young Voyagers. Christmas Grift. ZDolly and I. TJncle Ben. Birthday Barty. Proud and Lazy. Careless Kate. Robinson Crusoe, Jr. The Bicnio Barty. The Grold Thimble. The Do-Somethings. •' Anxious mothers who wish to keep their boys out of mischief, will do well to keep their hands filled with one of the numerous volumes of Oliver Optic. They all have a good moral, are full of fascinating incidents mingled with instruction, and teach that straight-forwardness is best." — News. LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. OLIVER OPTIC'S MAGAZINE. OLIVER OPTIC, Editor. Published Monthly. Each number contains : 'Part of a NEW STORY, by the Editor. STORIES and SKETCHES, by popular authors. An ORIGINAL DIALOGUE. A DECLAMATION. PUZZLES, REBUSES, &c. All Handsomely Illustrated. Terms : $2. 50 per year ; 25 cts. per number. Sold Everywhere. (^"Remember, this Magazine contains more reading matter than any other juvenile maga- zine published. Specimen copies sent free by mail on appli- cation. LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. OLIVER OPTIC'S YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD. A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands. 16mo. Illustrated by Nast, Stevens, Perkins, and others. Per volume, $1.50. Outward Bound, or Young America Afloat. Shamrock &. Thistle, or Young America in Ireland and Scotland. Red. Cross, or Young America in England and Wales. Diltes & Ditches* or Young America in Holland and Belgium. Palace &. Cottage, or Young America in France and Switzerland. 33otvxi the Rhine, or Young America in Germany. " These are by far the most instructive books written by this popular author, and while main- taining throughout enough of excitement and ad- venture to enchain the interest of the youtlvfu reader, there is still a great amount oi informa- , tion conveyed respecting the historv, natural fea- : tures, and geography of this far-off" land, and the : peculiarities of the places and people which they ■ contain." — Gazette. ? LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. OLIVER OPTIC'S LAKE SHORE SERIES. Six Vols., Illust. Per vol., $1.25. Through by Daylight ; Or, The Young Engineer of the Lake Shore Railroad. Lightning Express ; Or, The Rival Academies. On Time; Or, The Young Captain of the Ucayga Steamer. Switch Off; Or, The War of the Students. Brake Up; Or, The Young Peacemakers. Bear and Forhear ; Or, The Young Skipper of Lake Ucayga. Oliver Optic owes his popularity to a pleasant style, and to a ready sympathy with the dreams, hopes, aspirations, and fancies of the young people for whom he writes. He writes like a wise, over- grown boy, and his books have therefore a fresh- ness and raciness rarely attained by his fellow scribes. — Christian Advocate. LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. OLIVER OPTIC'S STARRY FLAG SERIES. Six Vols., Illust. Per vol., $1.23. The Starry Flag; Or, The Young Fisherman of Cape Ann. Breaking Away; Or, The Fortunes of a Student. Seek and Find; Or, The Adventures of a Smart Boy. Freaks of Fortune ; Or, Half Round the World. Make or Break; Or, The Rich Man's "Daughter. Down the River; Or, Buck Bradford and his Tyrants. These books are exciting narratives, and full of stirring adventures, but the youthful heroes of the stories are noble, self-sacrificing, and courageous, and the stories contain nothing which will do injury to the mind or heart of the youthful reader. — Webster Times. LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. OLIVER OPTIC'S BOAT CLUB SERIES. Six Vols., Illust. Per vol., $1.25. The Boat Club ; Or, The Bunkers of Rippleton. All Aboard; Or, Life on the Lake. Now or Never ; Or, the Adventures of Bobby Bright. Try Again ; * Or, The Trials and Triumphs of Harry West. Poor and Proud; Or, The Fortunes of Katy Redburn. Little by Little ; Or The Cruise of the Flyaway. Boys and girls have no taste for dry and tame things; they want something that will stir the blood and warm the heart. Optic aiwavs does this, while at the same time he improves the taste and elevates the moral nature. The coming gen- eration of men will never know how much they are indebted for what is pure and enobling to his writings. — S. 1. Schoolmate. LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. OLIVER OPTIC'S WOODVILLE STORIES. Six Vols., Illust. PeR vol., $1.25. Rich and Humble; Or, The Mission of Bertha Grant. In School and Out; Or, the Conquest of Richard Grant Watch and Wait; Or, The Young Fugitives. Work and Win ; Or, Noddy Newman on a Cruise. Hope and Have; Or, Fanny Grant among the Indians. Haste and Waste; Or, The Young Pilot of Lake Cham- plain, Oliver Optic is the apOBtolic successor, at the " Hub," of Peter Parley. He has just completed the "Woodville Stories," by the publication of "Haste and Waste." The best notice to give of them is to mention that a couple of youngsters pulled them out of the pile two hours since, and are yet devouring them out in the summer-house (albeit autumn leaves cover it) oblivious to muffin time. — if. Y. Leader. LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hil http://archive.org/details/switchofforwarofOOopti UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 00022228046 ■■a. (U& Jfr?j& /mAA.% THE LAKE SHORE SERIES. SWITCH OFF; THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. BY OLIVER OPTIC, AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES,' "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," " THE STARRY FLAG STORIES," ETC. BOSTON : LEE AND SHEPAED, PUBLISHERS. NEW YORK: LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM. 1873. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the 3-ear 1869, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. ELECTROTYPED AT THE BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY, No. 19 Spring Lane. my "sroxnsTG- friend "Z> WN S E T" ©Ins ^oofe IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. THE LAKE SHORE SERIES. 1. THROUGH BY DAYLIGHT ; or, The Young Engineer of the Lake Shore Railroad. 2. LIGHTNING EXPRESS; or, The Eival Academies. 3. ON TIME; or, The Young Captain of the Ucayga Steamer. 4. SWITCH OFF; or, The War of the Students. 5. BRAKE UP; or, The Young Peacemakers. {In press.') 6. BEAR AND FDRBEAR ; or, The Young Skipper of Lake Ucayga. PKEFACE, " Switch Off " is the fourth of The Lake Shore Series, and was one of the serials which appeared in Oliver Optic's Magazine. Its principal incidents relate to the students of the Toppleton Institute, among whom the war indicated on the title-page occurred. The story is told by- one of the young men, who is a prominent actor in the events he narrates. Tommy Toppleton again appears, and is even more overbeai-ing and tyrannical than before; but the reader will be willing to congratulate him, at the end, upon the happy influence of all his trials and troubles on his character, and, perhaps, be better prepared to believe that " oft from apparent ills our blessings rise." It has been the purpose of the author in this volume still further to illustrate the precept of the gospel, " Love your enemies ; " and the conduct of Ned towards his de- 5 PEEFACE. feated and mortified enemy is earnestly recommended as a safe rule for life. The manner in -which peace happened to be made between the rival Institutes has always been found to work quite as well in actual experience as in the story. Harrison Square, Mass., August 24, 1869. CONTENTS. CHAPTEE I. Eeady for a Start 11 CHAPTEE II. On the March 21 CHAPTEE III. Major Tommy unhorsed. . o 31 CHAPTEE IV. The Battle at the Farm-house 41 CHAPTEE V. To OBEY, OR NOT TO OBEY 51 CHAPTEE VI. The Battle in the Wheat Field 62 CHAPTEE VII. Tommy yields a Point 72 CHAPTEE VIII. The Fire in the Farm-house 82 (7) O CONTENTS. CHAPTEK IX. The Question of Rations 93 CHAPTER X. Who the Ceazt Man was 104 CHAPTER XI. In the Wild Region 114 CHAPTER XII. Before High Bluff 124 CHAPTER XIII. A Survey of the Situation 135 CHAPTER XIV. Sergeant Hacker's Visit 146 CHAPTER XV. A Strategic Movement 157 CHAPTER XVI. The Pine Tree Bridge 168 CHAPTER XVII. The first Ballot 179 CHAPTER XVIII. The second Ballot 190 CONTENTS. 9 CHAPTER XIX. Healing the Breach. 200 CHAPTER XX. Tommy Toppleton in Trouble 211 CHAPTER XXI. Christy Holgate 222 CHAPTER XXII. The Penitent 233 CHAPTER XXIII. The Attic Chamber 243 CHAPTER XXIV. The Disaster on the Wharf 253 CHAPTER XXV. Let us have Peace 265 CHAPTER XXVI. Toppleton Triumphant 276 SWITCH OFF; OK, THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. CHAPTER I. EEADY FOR A START. ^RDER — arms!" said Major Tommy Toppleton, mounted on his sorrel pony, and facing the battalion formed of the students of the Toppleton Institute. The buts of the light muskets clanged in unison on the gravel walk, where the column was drawn up. It was early on Monday morning, and the young soldiers were in excellent spirits — better than they were likely to be at a later hour in the day, for the programme included a fatiguing march. On the road leading from the Institute grounds stood three wag- ons, each drawn by two horses, upon which were (H) 12 SWITCH OFF, OR loaded the baggage, provisions, and camp equipage of the battalion. At the head of the column was the students' band of ten pieces, besides a drum corps of eight, and two fifers. Signor Perelli, our music teacher, had bestowed incredible care and pains upon these amateur musi- cians, and those who were competent judges declared that the result was highly creditable to his skill and perseverance. In other words, the band played very well, though it did not undertake to compete with Gilmore, Strauss, Jullien, or even with the Ucayga Cornet Band. The drum corps was a perfect suc- cess, for most of its members had been in practice over a year. Not a few of the people of Middleport had gath- ered in front of the Institute to witness the parade, for the occasion was no ordinary one, and the pro- gramme of the battalion had been thoroughly dis- cussed for weeks. In years before, the students had damped out during the June vacation. During the preceding season the Toppletonians had pitched their tents on the Horse Shoe, where the famous battles between the rival academies had taken place, as my THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 13 friend Captain Wolf Penniman has related in his ^tory. Camping out had become rather stale with the students, and they longed for a new sensation. If they could have encamped on the Horse Shoe, and had another conflict with the Wimpletonians, per- haps it would have satisfied them. But there was no prospect of any sport of this kind, for Wacldie "Wimpleton, the haughty, untamed, and tyrannical, was as mild and gentle as a lamb. It was said among the fellows that he had experienced religion, or some- thing of that sort. It was certain he was not the boy he used to be. He had voluntarily resigned his positions as president of the Steamboat Company and major of the battalion. Though Ben Pinkerton was commander of the forces on the other side of the lake, it was supposed that Waddie's influence as a peacemaker was sufficient to control the movements of the troops, and prevent them from engaging in another conflict with the fellows on our side of the lake. Besides, there was another circumstance which seemed to interfere to keep the peace between the 14 SWITCH OFF, OR boys of the two Institutes. A military gentleman, residing at Ucayga, had become interested in the two battalions of juvenile soldiers, and had offered a prize of a magnificent standard to the one which should excel the other in company and battalion drill. With the vanity natural to boys, each party believed that all the skill and precision was upon its own side, and both had accepted the invitation to drill for the ban- ner. This great event was to come off on the fol- lowing Friday morning, at Centreport. The place had been fixed by lot ; and, when the arrangement had been completed, it suggested the present movement of our battalion. The Toppletonians did not care to encamp at any point near enough to Centreport to enable them to keep their engagement, and when Captain Briscoe jocosely proposed that the little army should march round to the other side of the lake by the way of Hitaca, the idea was received with tremendous enthu- siasm. The excursion would be a tour of camp duty, with an ever-changing scene, and with no lack of novelty and excitement. We voted, almost unani- mously, that the long tramp of seventy miles was just the thing we wanted. THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 15 It would afford us opportunity to display our new uniforms, our band and drum corps, our drill and marching, to people on the route who had hardly ever seen a company of soldiers. "We should aston- ish the Hitacaites with our music and parade, excite the admiration of the ladies in general, and the young ladies in particular, and make us all first-class lions. The people would turn out to behold us, bestow del- icate attentions upon us, and entertain us with gen- erous hospitality. We had all the elements for a splendid parade, including our stylish uniforms, good music, and well-trained companies. For two weeks hardly anything was talked about but this tour of camp duty. Those who received the plan coldly at first, soon became enthusiastic. Those who growled at the idea of marching twenty miles in a day were persuaded to believe that our progress would be a continued triumph, and that it would be accomplished in six or seven hours, so that there would be plenty of time to rest. The authorities of the Institute objected to the plan, but as Major Tom- my Toppleton favored it, there was not much to be said against it. His father was compelled to indorse 16 SWITCH OFF, OR the march ; and, of course, the instructors were obliged to withdraw all opposition. Two of the teachers, besides the drill-master, were detailed to accompany the battalion in carriages, and prevent it from robbing hen-roosts, or capturing any of the towns on the route. But when Tommy heard of this little arrangement he was as indignant as though the professors had given him a thrashing, and interposed his veto. Pie would not have any school- masters dogging his steps, and spying into his actions. He hated spies. The battalion was composed of young gentlemen, and if they were a little fast at times, they knew how to behave themselves, and did not need any 2)edagogues to watch them. He could take care of his force himself. So the instructors were permitted to spend their vacation in pursuits more congenial to their tastes than following a multitude of crazy boys, under a crazy leader. Perhaps it would have been better for Tommy if he had permitted these guar- dians of the peace to attend the battalion. We were all ready to start. The baggage wagons were to fall in behind the column, and the drivers were on their boxes. Everybody was in high spirits, THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 17 and anticipated the greatest time known in the an- nals of the Toppleton Institute. Major Tommy, in particular, was in full feather; for he was the com- mander of the expedition, and a march of a Aveek through places which suggested honors and ovations was an event which was calculated to stimulate his bump of self-esteem. On the preceding Saturday, the stockholders of the Lake Shore Railroad had held their annual meeting. On the year before, the present president had actu- ally been defeated on the first ballot, and " your hum- ble servant" elected in his place. Not caring to endure the constant browbeating and annoyance to which I should have been subjected had I taken the office, and because I really believed then that Tommy ought to have it, I had declined. Then, by a tre- mendous effort on the part of the president's friends, and particularly on the part of Wolf Penniman, who pleaded for him as though he had been a friend in distress, Tommy received a bare majority of the votes cast. I was sorry afterwards that I refused the position ; for Tommy, always overbearing and tyrannical, be- 2 18 SWITCH OFF, OR came so to such an extent that the fellows had been on the verge of mutiny for a year. They had waited with impatience for the return of the annual elections, intending to pitch him down from his high positions. But Tommy and his father had provided for this emer- gency. The former had always nominally held — as, in fact, the rest of the students owned their stock — a large proportion of the shares. If a boy left the Institute during the year, his stock was made over to Tommy, or to some of his toadies, for he had a small army of satellites of this species. The result was, that the president was reelected by a small ma- jority. Feeling that he was secure in his high posi- tion, he had taken no pains to conciliate those who condemned his tyranny, and, if possible, he was more unpopular than ever. The students had become pretty thoroughly dis- gusted with the management of the Lake Shore Rail- road. Although the business of the company was still carried on in their name; though the stock was bought, sold, and transferred on the books ; though the boys discharged the duties of their several offices, — they had but little interest in the corporation. They had THE WAK OF THE STUDENTS. 19 no real power. If the superintendent, the road-mas- ter, or the directors did anything, it was by order of Tommy or his father. But, I ought to add, in justice to Major Toppleton, that there was not a stu- dent in the Institute, who had been there a year, that did not know all about the details of running a rail- road, who was not familiar with stock operations, and who was not prepared to discharge his duty as an official in a railroad company. As a means of instruc- tion, it was still a good thing; but it had ceased to be a source of amusement, as it would have been if the president had not ruled so arbitrarily. As the railroad president, Tommy was safe for another year. Though dissatisfied, our fellows had already begun to gather up the stock by helping out weaker ones in their lessons, or by the purchase of it with money, peanuts, and cream-cakes. The elec- tion of a commanding officer of the battalion usually came off on the same day as the railroad meeting ; but it had been postponed to the following Tuesday, by what influence I do not know. Those who ac- complished this purpose either forgot that on this day we should be on the march, or they expected to derive some advantage from the fact. 20 SWITCH OFF, OR Tommy Toppleton declared that he was sure of being elected ; and I think he was sincere in his belief. He had many devoted adherents, who bowed down to his power and influence ; but there were just as many active opponents, and a great middle class who were not partisans either for or against him. Electioneering on both sides was carried on with spirit and energy, and the contest promised to be an excitincr one. THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 21 CHAPTER II. ON THE MARCH. THE battalion stood at "order arms," waiting for the next movement. Major Tommy galloped his sorrel charger up and down the line, looking with great solemnity at the troops. We in the line wondered what was going to happen, though we were all sufficiently aware of Tommy's propensity for mak- ing speeches to suspect that he meditated a flight of rhetoric on the present occasion. The opportunity seemed to be too good for him to neglect. He would not have thought of making a speech to the battalion alone ; but the instructors and quite a respectable crowd of the town's people were present, and we knew the oration was intended for them rather than for us, to whom it was addressed. " Soldiers," Tommy began, with a flourish of his sword, — a very elegant toy, which added much vim 22 SWITCH OFF, OB to his words, — "we are about to commence a long march." " What's the use of saying that ? We knew it before," said, in a low tone, the first lieutenant of Company B, who stood near me. " We are going without any of our instructors, entirely upon our own responsibility." "We know that too," growled the lieutenant; and no one will suspect that he was a partisan of the major, " Soldiers, we must remember the uniform that we wear, and never disgrace it. We must bear in mind that we are the soldiers of the Toppleton Institute, upon which rests no stain of disgrace or dishonor. Wherever we go, let it be our purpose to reflect credit and honor upon the institution. We claim to be young gentlemen; let us conduct ourselves as such, whether we be in the halls of the Institute, or amid the solitudes of nature." " He stole that," hummed the discontented lieuten- ant of Company B. " Soldiers, we are a military organization, subject to the rules of military discipline. The first duty of a soldier is to obey the orders of his superiors. I expect THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 23 from you, during the march that is before us, the most implicit obedience to your officers. If any one, officer or private, behaves himself in an unsoldierly manner, he shall be promptly tried by court martial, and pun- ished for his offence." " Court martial ! " exclaimed the grumbler of Com- pany B. " If Tommy Toppleton don't conduct himself according to his buncombe standard, I go for trying him by court martial." Tommy's allusion to military discipline looked as though he h^ad obtained a new idea. A court mar- tial was a thing unknown in the experience of our little army. Tommy had threatened the thing once or twice when the boys were crooked, though delin- quents were reported to the principal of the Institute, and punished by him. But it was a fact that the major had been studying up courts martial; and when he mentioned the matter, we were satisfied that he would be on the lookout for some one to court mar- tial. It was evident that he wished to go through with the ceremony of a military court, and we saw that it would be well for us to be prudent, or he would soon find a victim. 24 SWITCH OFF, OR Tommy proceeded to explain the order of march, the rules of the camp and' bivouac, and repeated his injunctions that all the members of the battalion should behave with perfect propriety, the latter of which could only be meant in a Pickwickian sense, and was uttered to produce a proper impression upon the instructors and other outsiders. "Shoulder — arms!" shouted he, when he had fin- ished his oration. We shouldered, broke into sections, and moved off. The baggage wagons fell in behind, and the long tramp was actually commenced. The band played " The Girl I left behind me," which, however, had no special significance on the present occasion, inasmuch as we were all too young to have sweethearts. Major Tommy rode in solemn majesty at the head of the column, the boys and girls in the streets gazing at him in wonder and admiration. The sorrel pony, as well as the rider, seemed to "feel his oats," prancing and curvetting in a very impressive manner. In less than half an hour we had passed the last house in the town. Thus far we had marched with the utmost precision, and the band had played nearly THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 25 all the time, relieved at intervals by the drum corps. Of course we all expected to make a show when we passed any houses, or there were any people to see us; but we did not like to be kept in the strait jacket of precision when there was no occasion for a sensation, and when there was nothing but the squir- rels and the robins to be moved by a martial display. We expected the order for the "route step," which permitted us to march in a free and easy manner. It did not come, and the band and the drum corps bio wed and pounded just as though we had been in the midst of a populous city. " Tommy is ugly to-day," said the lieutenant of Company B. "He means to make us work our pas- sage." "I am afraid he is," I replied. "But it is not very uncommon for him." "I should think he would remember that to-mor- row will be election day. What's the use of tooting so out ke»e!" added the malcontent, alluding to the music of the band. " No use ; but it's Tommy's will." "No talking in the ranks there!" exclaimed Tom- 26 SWITCH OFF, OR my, who had halted his steed at the side of the road to survey his command. "Captain Skotchley, you will keep in your proper position." I obeyed the order; but, as Tommy rode forward, I ventured to suggest that the route step would be agreeable to the privates. " You will mind your own business, Captain Skotch- ley, and remember that I command the battalion. I don't need any advice," was the ungracious reply. By 'regular promotions I had become the captain of Company B. My advancement was not due to Tommy's favor, for I was not one of his toadies. I had taken no part in the battles on the Horse Shoe the year before, when the conduct of the little major had been so overbearing that I could not endure it. I was charged with being a deserter. I wrote to my father, asking him to take me away from the Insti- tute ; but he was an old friend of Major Toppleton, senior, and a peace was patched up between us. I was restored to my rank; but Tommy hated me as he did the evil one, because I would not toady to him. Why should I ? My father was not less wealthy than his. Our social position was just as good. I THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 27 always made it a point to be a gentleman. I had my friends among the poor as well as the rich; and I don't think I ever put on airs. I always had a profound respect and admiration for Wolf Penniman, and we were the very best of friends. He always called me the " dignified student," though I don't think there was any particular reason for doing so, unless it was that I was too dignified to be trodden beneath the feet of Tommy Toppleton. I always liked a good time, and went in for one when there was a chance. Without egotism I may say that I stood well with the fellows in- the Institute — that is, with all those whose good opinion was worth having. I base my judgment of this feeling upon the fact that they elected me the president of the railroad company over Tommy Toppleton, the year before, and had given me almost a majority the present year. More than this, in the counsels of the opposition, I had been invited to stand as a candidate for major, at the coming election. Briscoe ranked me, and was a very good fellow, though a little disposed to be hot-headed at times. I refused to stand in his way, believing 28 SWITCH OFF, OR him justly entitled to the office if Tommy was de- feated, as the opposition hoped and expected he would be on the following day. Some of the fellows told the captain of Company A that I had declined in his favor, and I did not lose anything in his esti- mation by the act. Tommy did not give us the route step, and we con- cluded he intended to worry and fatigue us as much as he could ; but we were too good soldiers to dis- obey orders, at least at this stage of the march. We advanced with as much precision as though the eyes of admiring thousands had been fixed upon us. We were ascending the gentle undulation of a long hill, about four miles from Middleton, when we saw a young man in a wagon, with a very pretty girl at his side, driving a spirited horse. The band was laboriously wailing out the solemn strains of " Hail, Columbia," for it had about exhausted its repertoire of pieces ; and the bass drummer pounded out his part as though he knew not the meaning of weari- ness. The horse attached to the wagon, which ap- peared to be a four-year-old colt, began to snort, and exhibit an evident disinclination to "face the music." THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 29 Pretty girl was alarmed, as well she might be, for the capricious animal reared and plunged in a fearful manner. The young man holding the reins Avas mas- ter of the situation, though he appeared to have his hands full. Major Tommy was riding on the flank of the bat- talion, as the head of the column approached the furious horse. He dashed forward with a flourish, when the leader of the band, seeing that the music frightened the colt, and not wishing to be responsible for a catastrophe, had silenced the players. " Why don't you play ? What did you stop for ? " shouted the major, angrily. "Strike up again!" The leader tooted with his bugle, and the bass drummer hammered out the initial notes of the piece. The terrified animal, which had begun to take a rea- sonable view of the situation, reared and plunged again. Pretty girl screamed, as pretty girls do when they are alarmed, and the colt was frightened all the more. " I say, cap'n, just stop the music for half a min- ute — won't you, if you please ? " said the driver, appealing to Tommy, who had now resumed his place at the head of the battalion. 30 SWITCH OFF, ok " No, sir ! I won't stop the music," replied Tommy, rudely ; and he appeared to enjoy the terror of the pretty girl, and the antics of the horse. " Only half a minute ! Clarissa is scared half to death," added the young man. "Play away!" was the only reply the magnificent major deigned to make. The colt stopped, stood up straight, and positively refused to advance another step. Then, as the band advanced, he began to back, until he had placed the wagon square across the road, between the major and the musicians. " Stop the music," said Caj)tain Briscoe, in a low tone. The band ceased playing. Indeed, they could not well do otherwise, for the fractious colt, as the driver attempted to urge him forward, broke in upon their ranks, and then backed them out of the road, and out of their propriety at the same instant. THE WAE OF THE STUDENTS. 31 CHAPTER III. MAJOR TOMMY UNHORSED. "HAT do you stop playing for?" demanded Major Tommy, furiously. It was a stupid question, after the musicians had been driven out of the road by the antics of the colt. The head of the column had also been broken ; for, though the Toppleton warriors were brave fel- lows, they did not like the idea of being ground under the wheels of the countryman's wagon, and they were prepared to make a safe retreat, without much regard to the order of their going. The major — as the colt finally stopped and stood impatiently pawing the ground — rode back to the spot where the head of the column ought to have been. " You are a set of blockheads ! " roared Tommy. " Are you afraid of a horse ? Form in column I Play away, again." ©2 SWITCH OFF, OE "I say, cap'n, just hold on 'half a minute — won't you, till I get by ? " called the driver of the unbroken colt. "No, I won't." "Don't be mean about it," added the countryman, rather angrily. " Get out of the road ! " cried Tommy. " See here, you little cock-turkey : if you don't be- have yourself, I'll snake you off that horse quicker than you can shut your eyes when it lightens ! " " Don't ! Don't ! I'm scart almost to death," gasped pretty girl. " Let me get out ! We shall be killed." And suiting the action to the words, pretty girl, as nimbly as a bird, jumped out of the wagon, and retreated from the scene of danger. My company was still in good order, with the lieu- tenants in position in front of the platoons. I walked forward in season to hear Briscoe advise the leader of the band not to play. My judgment was, that Tommy was crazy to insist upon scaring the horse, when the danger was so great; and I was willing to back up the senior captain. THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 33 " Why don't you play, when I tell you to do so ? " roared Tommy, furious at the disobedience of the band. They did not say anything, but they did not blow. The colt, no longer hearing the music, and finding the road comparatively clear before 'him, allowed himself to be appeased by his driver. He stood tossing his head and pawing the ground ; but he appeared to be conscious that he had won the battle, and to be en- tirely satisfied with himself. The young man in charge of him, doubtless thinking that discretion was the better part of valor, or that the battle was not worth fighting after the retreat of Clarissa, got out of the wagon, and took the colt by the bridle. Lead- ing him out of the road, he patted his neck. " Cap'n, your the meanest pup I've met since I was born," added the young man, when he had reduced the colt to a tolerably quiet state. "None of your impudence, you rascal," replied Tommy. " If I hadn't my hands full, I'd give you something besides impudence, you little snipper-snapper of a cock-turkey ! " 3 34 SWITCH OFF, OE " Form your company, Captain Briscoe ! " growled Tommy. The senior captain obeyed the command, and the battalion was again in marching order, with the scat- tered musicians reorganized at its head. " Music ! " shouted the commander. " Forward — march ! " The leader of the band was not one of Tommy's toadies, and, fortified by the senior captain's advice, he failed to give the key-note which was the signal for the musicians to play. The column began to move ; but not a demi-semiquaver came from the band, — only the tap of the drummer. "Halt!" cried the major, before the battalion had taken three steps. " Why don't you play ? " "I'm not going to scare that horse any more," re- plied the leader. " You are not ! " foamed Tommy, red with rage, as he pushed his horse up to the musician, and struck him over the shoulder with his sword. " No, I'm not ! I don't want to kill anybody." It was evident that a victim for the court martial had been found ; but it was certain that, if Fryes, the THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 35 leader of the band, was "broken," we could have no more music, for the players could do nothing without him. He was the son of a German distinguished in musical circles, and inherited his skill from his father. He was a splendid fellow, and would have been an officer if he could have been spared from the band, so that his present service really involved a great sacrifice on his part. "If you don't play, I'll march the battalion back to Middleport, and have you punished as you de- serve," added Tommy. We were not a little astonished that Fryes did not resent the indignity of the blow he had received, especially as he was a high-spirited fellow. I saw the leader glance at Briscoe, who nodded his head. Per- haps the senior captain was afraid that the irate major would march us back to the Institute, and thus defeat a little plan we had formed to remedy our grievances. Fryes understood the signal of Briscoe, and gave the key-note. The musicians were all ready. " Forward — march ! " shouted Tommy. The first beat of the bass drum, with the accom- panying blast of the brass instruments, waked up the 36 SWITCH OFF, OE colt again, and, in spite of all the efforts of the coun- tryman, again he stood up upon his hind feet. He was even more desperate than before, and in his furi- ous struggles shook off the man. The instant he had freed himself from the control of the strong arm, — which I think was done by the breaking of the bri- dle, — he whirled around in the twinkling of an eye, without regard to the wagon attached to him. Cut- ting so short lifted up the body of the vehicle, and drawing out the snipe-bill, detached it from the for- ward wheels. The colt now had it all his own way. The driver sprang forward and attempted to catch him; but the beast seemed to flash rather than move in the ordi- nary way, and dashed off at a furious run in the direc- tion from which he had come. Pretty girl, on the bank at the side of the road, screamed again, as the catastrophe was consummated. The musicians ceased playing, in the excitement of the moment, and the battalion was thrown into disorder. " There, do you see Avhat you've done ! " howled the countryman, doubling up his fist at Tommy, as the colt disappeared behind a hill in front of us. THE WAK OF THE STUDENTS. 37 "I didn't do it," replied Tommy; and I judged, from his tone, that even he was not a little startled by the consequences of his folly. "Why didn't you take care of your horse?" "Get off that nag!" said the young man, rushing upon Tommy, and seizing the pony by the bridle. " Let me alone ! Don't touch my horse ! " Before we were aware of his purpose, the excited man had dragged Tommy from his steed, and pitched him into the dirt in the middle of the road. But it presently appeared that he was not intent upon aven- ging the insults of Tommy, for he mounted the pony, and, grinding his heels into the flanks of the little charger, forced him into a run. He dashed up the hill, and disappeared beyond its crest. Briscoe and I rushed forward to the assistance of Tommy, who, however, picked himself up with a facil- ity which indicated that he was not seriously injured. I took his sword from the ground, where it had fallen in the sudden onslaught of the major's agile foe, and handed it back to him. "Are you hurt, major?" asked Briscoe. " No, I believe not," replied Tommy, feeling of his 38 SWITCH OFF, OR injured leg, and assuring himself that it had sustained no damage. " Is your leg all right ? " " Yes ; but I should like to get hold of that fellow," answered Tommy, who had sufficiently recovered from his astonishment to begin to be angry at the savage treatment he had received. " I don't think you would make much if you did get hold of him," I ventured to remark. " Why not ? " demanded the discomfited major, who .did not appear to see the point of my observation. " He is too heavy for you." "Do you think I will stand such usage as that?" " I don't exactly see how you can help yourself, now that it is all over." " I'll teach that fellow who I am." "It seems to me that you will have to catch him before you teach him anything." " The rascal has stolen my horse ! " " I don't think he meant to steal him," suggested Captain Briscoe. " He has only gone to find his own horse." " He stole him, anyhow ; and it will cost him a THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 39 penny for knocking me off in that style," continued Tommy, shaking his head, as the extent of his defeat seemed to crowd upon him. " That fellow don't know who I am." " Perhaps he don't," I replied ; and I couldn't help winking at Briscoe, though I am opposed to winking in any other than the natural way, in theory, if not in practice. "What shall we do, Major Toppleton?" asked the senior captain, when Tommy had informed us what he intended to do, if he caught the countryman. " Well, I don't know. I'm not going on this tramp without any horse." "You will get your pony again," major, suggested Captain Briscoe. " I want that man taken up and punished as he ought to be for knocking me off, and for taking my horse," added Tommy, savagely. " Why didn't you pitch into him, some of you, when he came at me ? " Neither of us ventured to make any reply to this reproachful question, for our sympathies were certainly with the young man — at least up to the point when he pulled Tommy off his horse. 40 SWITCH OFF, OR "I don't think you had the pluck of a mosquito, or you would have punched him with your swords." " Why didn't you do it yourself? You were nearer to hira than we were," I replied. " He didn't give me time." " He didn't give us time, either." "I didn't know what he was going to do till he had done it." "Neither did we." "No matter for that now; when we catch him we will give him fits. If the whole battalion can't han- dle that man, I think we had better take lessons in fighting. I'm going to capture him, and give him a thrashing for his impudence, if we see him again." Briscoe looked at me with a meaning smile. We were not disposed to quarrel with our superior officer ; but both of us believed the countryman had served him just right. It was a simple thing to stop the music for a few moments ; but Tommy's stupid ob- stinacy always made him grossly unreasonable. THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 41 CHAPTER IV. THE BATTLE AT THE EAEM-HOTJSE. THE female companion of the countryman had already left the spot, and was hastening up the hill, probably very anxious to ascertain the fate of the colt. Major Tommy had made up his mind to do something desperate. He intended to find his as- sailant, and then charge upon him with the whole battalion ; at any rate this was the interpretation which we gave to his words, looks, and gestures. If he ever fancied that he was insulted, or if he ever got the worst of it in any encounter in which he was himself the aggressor, he was not satisfied till he had obtained full satisfaction. He was spiteful and revengeful. Because, during the military campaign of the preceding year, Wolf had gently declined to obey an order which involved the danger of killing or drowning a portion of the 42 SWITCH OFF, OR "Wimpletonians, he had followed him up with his spite until our friend was discharged from the employ of the Lake Shore Railroad. It was not in his nature, therefore, to permit his present assailant to escape without inflicting upon him the full penalty of his wrath. Fryes, too, had incurred his displeasure by disobey- ing the major's unreasonable order. But Briscoe had counselled him to disregard this command; and our senior captain was not one who would disavow his act when the hour of reckoning came. lie would stand by the leader of the band ; and I intended to do so myself. The prospect, therefore, of a "jolly row" was very promising. I was only sorry that Briscoe had finally given the signal for Fryes to play, for this had caused all the real mischief. He told me he did so because the colt seemed to be quiet, and his driver held him by the head, so that he did not aj)prehend any more danger. The battalion was in order in the road ; and, after the major had sufficiently vented his indignation, he gave the command to march. The band played, and we ascended the hill. On the summit of it we obtained THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 43 a view of the road for a mile. In the valley there was a farm-house, with a drive-way leading up to the barn in the rear. When we were near enough, we saw Tommy's pony fastened to the fence in front of the house. The colt,, with the truck of the wagon, was in the yard. It was evident that this was the home of the countryman, and the fiery animal had sought the friendly shelter of the stable to save him from the terrors of the trumpet and bass drum. So far as we could judge, no injury had been done to man or beast. When the head of the battalion arrived at the farm-house, the major gave the order to halt. His first movement was to mount his pony; and no op- position to this act was made by the occupants of the house. The man in charge of the colt detached him from the truck, and put him in the barn, probably to prevent him from being further demoralized by the martial array, and perhaps to enable him to meet the major on a better footing. While Tommy was mount- ing his horse, the man came out of the barn, and marched boldly up to the one hundred and twenty bayonets which our force presented. 44 SWITCH OFF, OR " It's lucky for you that our colt wasn't hurt ; if he had been, I would have taken it out of your hide," the countryman began, when he was within hailing distance of the major. " What do you mean by knocking me off my horse ? " responded Tommy. " What do I mean ? If you say much more, I'll duck you in that mud-hole over there. You could see that the music was scaring my colt; and I asked you, in a civil way, to stop it for half a minute, till I got by. If you hadn't been a hog, you would have done so," growled the rural gentleman. " I'm not going to stop the music for every clown that comes along. You insulted me." "Iusulted you! I'm letting you off dog cheap! Now, go along about your business, before I'm tempted to put my claws upon you." " Not yet," replied Tommy, shaking his head fierce- ly. " Do you know who I am ? " " I don't care who you are. If you were the Grand Mogul himself, I should speak my mind. I suppose you are that young pup of a Toppleton, that has it all his own way over to Middleport ; but we don't THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 45 train in that company, and when you come out here, you must behave yourself. I reckon you haven't any right to go tooting over our roads, and frightening horses with your racket. I'll let you off this time, as the colt isn't hurt, and nobody else isn't hurt." " But I don't mean to let you off," retorted Tom- my, irritated by this plain speech, and especially by the contempt manifested towards the house of Top- pleton. " O, don't you ! " exclaimed the young man, with a broad grin. "No, I don't. I'll pay you off for insulting me." " Well, when you get ready, I want you to begin," chuckled the man. "But, if I have to take hold of you, I shall flop you over two or three times in that mud-hole, just enough to take the starch out of them fine clothes you wear." " Get down on your knees and beg my pardon, and I will let you off," said Tommy, who evidently, after the expressive speech of the countryman, did not exactly relish the job he had undertaken. " Well, that's a good one ! Get down on my knees ? I guess not ! I never get down on my knees, 46 SWITCH OFF, OR not even when I weed the onions. It wears out a fellow's trousers. If you are not in a hurry, cap'n, I wish you would wait just half a minute ; I've got some medicine in the barn that will just fit your case." This specimen of the high-spirited farmer rushed into the barn, and presently returned with a cowhide in one hand and a pitchfork in the other. " If I'm going to stand up against the crowd, I want this," he added, sticking the tines into the sod. " If I'm going to deal with you alone, cap'n, I only want this — and the mud-hole," he continued, flour- ishing the green hide. " You can go ahead any way you like when you are ready, cap'n." By this time, the " women folks " from the house, including Clarissa, and an elderly man, who appeared to be the father of the belligerent young man, had assembled in the yard. The old gentleman had a hoe in his hand, and had come forward to a point within supporting distance of his son. He looked like a Bunker Hill veteran, and regarded the threat- ening conflict with imperturbable coolness. Proba- bly he had already learned the merits of the case, for THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 47 he asked no questions, though he gave the major some sage advice, to the effect that he had done mis- chief enough, and had better go along about his business. " Tom's a fool ! " said Briscoe, impatiently, as we stood watching the issue of the controversy. " What does he mean to do ? " " I don't know," I replied ; " but one stupid thing leads him into another." But we were not left long in doubt in regard to what Tommy intended to do. "Captain Skotchley !" called the major, in his im- perative tone. I walked up to him, and saluted with my sword. "March your company to the rear of that rascal, and don't let him get away." " I don't think he wants to get away," I replied. "Then punch him with the bayonets, and we will take him in front. Make him a prisoner." "Don't you do it, Ned," said Briscoe, in a low tone. " I must respectfully decline to obey the order," I answered, firmly. " You refuse ? " gasped the major. 48 SWITCH OFF, OK "I do." "What do you mean?" howled Tommy, so mad that he could hardly help crying. "Major Toppleton, I think you are all wrong in this business," I added. " We have no right to attack that man." " Do you obey the orders of your commanding officer, or not ? " demanded Tommy. " I obey all reasonable orders," I replied. " We will settle this with you another time," said the major, riding over to my company, whither I fol- lowed him. I had given him another victim for the court mar- tial, and I wondered what he would do next. " Captain Skotchley is suspended from duty," con- tinued the major. " He refuses to obey orders. Lieu- tenant Faxon will take command of the second com- pany." He repeated the order to the first lieutenant as he had given it to me. "I must ask to be excused," replied Faxon. " What ! is there a mutiny in the battalion ? Then Lieutenant Barnscott will command the company." THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 49 The second lieutenant had been bought up by the major, and was a willing tool. The privates had heard all these proceedings, and understood the mer- its of the question. When Barnscott undertook to march the company to the spot assigned to it, the majority refused to go. "Mutiny!" shouted Tommy. "But I'll bring you to your senses ! " Twenty or twenty-five of the company followed Barnscott ; the rest remained leaning on their guns in the road. Briscoe, when the order was given him to attack in front, followed my example ; but his first lieutenant was one of the major's adherents, and obeyed the order with not more than thirty of his command. However, the attacking force was com- posed of about fifty, and Tommy was determined to be revenged. The little major's military calculations were never very brilliant, and the old man and his son — the latter of whom seemed to regard the whole affair as a pleasant joke — obstinately refused to be flanked by Company B, and with the hoe and pitchfork kept the brave sol- diers at bay. Tommy moved up himself with the 50 SWITCH OFF, OR first company, and ordered them to charge upon the young man and capture him. Before this could be done, however, the " women folks " appeared with a large tin wash-boiler, filled with hot water. "Here, Jed!" called Clarissa, as she presented the young fellow with an immense syringe, used for showering plants with soap suds to destroy insects. " You can fix 'em in two minutes ! " Jed took the instrument, and filled it with water from the boiler, just as Company A charged bayonets, and began to move forward. Directing it at the ad- vancing line, his ruddy face overspread with a jolly grin, he let fly the contents of the barrel. The old lady and Clarissa, with a couple of dippers, at the same time began to operate independently, dashing the hot water upon the column. The effect was deci- sive. The portions of the two companies engaged did not include the best fellows in the battalion, though, if they had, it is doubtful whether they could have stood up before a charge of hot water. The assailants broke, and retreated in disorder. The con- tents of Clarissa's tin cup, aimed at Tommy, drove him from the field, and he lost the battle. THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 51 CHAPTER V. TO OBEY, OR NOT TO OBEY. I THINK our brave fellows were more frightened than hurt; for, if the water in the wash-boiler was hot, it was not in condition to scald them after it had passed through the cold syringe. Some of them were a little red in spots on the face and hands; but, as warriors, in this piping time of peace, they had not been above dodging, and, in consequence, none of them were seriously damaged. Without using the obnoxious first line of the old couplet, they were in condition to fight another day. The battle was certainly a very humorous one. Jecl, in spite of his arduous labors, was convulsed with laughter. Clarissa, the pretty girl, was now very rosy, but whether from her exertions with the dipper or with laughing, I was unable to determine. The old farmer and his wife were both in excellent 52 SWITCH OFF, OK humor ; and it was plain enough that we were to be laughed out of the battle, if we were not actually driven off the field. The mutinous troops who had refused to take part in the action were quite as much amused as the people of the farm. Major Tommy Toppleton retreated before his routed column, which followed him down the road a short distance. The savage assailants did not offer to pur- sue their discomfited foe, and I had no doubt that the commander would call a council of war among his friends. I did not expect him to renew the attack under the present circumstances, or, at least, not till the water in the boiler had cooled off. Jed and his father, however, carried the kettle into the house, either to enable the old lady to continue her Mon- day morning operations, or to keep the water hot for another emergency, or possibly for both. "Well, Ned, what is going to be the end of all this ? " said Briscoe, walking up to me, after the storm .of battle had subsided. " I don't know," I replied. " We must wait and see what Tommy does. Of course we are ready to obey any reasonable orders." THE WAR OP THE STUDENTS. 53 " I am not exactly sure of that, after what has hap- pened. Suppose the major wishes us to march back to Middleport. Shall we go?" "I suppose we must," I replied, rather dubiously. "As both of us happen to be suspended just now, 1 conclude that we have nothing more to do with this business." We sheathed our swords by mutual consent, and seated ourselves on the fence at the side of the road to wait for the "moving of the waters." " What are we to do ? " asked Crampton, one of the privates in my company. "I'm sure I don't know," I answered, laughing. "I am willing to obey all reasonable orders, and I suppose you ought to do the same." "We are ready to stand by you," added Dunbokl, a corporal of the first company. "We have the majority," said Sergeant Langdon, suggestively. " We don't want to make a row yet," continued Crampton. "There will be one about to-morrow noon, when we vote for officers. You know the balloting is to come off then. It can only be post- poned by a vote of the battalion." 54 SWITCH OFF, OE " I am suspended from duty, aud of course I haven't anything to say," I added. " That's just my case," said Briscoe. " I would rather keep quiet till after the election." It was evident to me that we were on the very verge of the long-expected mutiny. The president of the Lake Shore Railroad Company, and the major of the battalion, had ruled us with a rod of iron. We had borne it longer than we intended ; and the present occasion, when we were beyond the reach of outside influences, seemed to be favorable for the final settle- ment of the matter. As students, we were the equals, in every respect, of Tommy Tojrpleton, and we were determined to make him treat us like gentlemen. While Briscoe and myself were discussing the situa- tion, Sergeant Hacker, one of the major's adherents, advanced towards us. He looked as though he had come upon a desperate mission, for his lips were com- pressed, his eyebrows knit, and his step very decided. "Captain Briscoe." " Sergeant Hacker." " Major Toppleton orders you to march your com- pany down the road," continued the messenger, point- ing to the place where Tommy had halted. THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 55 "All right! I will do so," replied Briscoe. The captain of the first company gave his orders, and his command moved off, leaving my company and the band opposite the house. Hacker returned to the major, but immediately appeared again with an order for me to join the main body with the mutinous por- tion of my company. Tommy looked wrathful and disgusted, as he always did when he had been thwarted in his purposes. "I am glad that you have concluded to obey orders," said he, with an obvious sneer in his tone and manner, as I saluted him, after halting my com- pany. "I shall always be ready to obey any reasonable order," I replied, respectfully. "Reasonable! " exclaimed he. "What do you mean by reasonable ? " " Involving anything which it is proper for the bat- talion to do," I replied. " Who is to determine whether it is proper or not ? " demanded Tommy. "I should say that you were, in the first place, before you gave the order," I answered, careful not to provoke his anger. 56 SWITCH OFF, OB a I should say there was a mutiny in the line," add- ed the major. "I don't want to argue the matter now. When I give an order, I intend to be obeyed, whether you consider it reasonable or not." I made no reply, and the little major looked as pompous as though the question had been forever settled. I thought we could all afford to wait until the nest day at noon, when the election was to take place ; for it was a sure thing, if the balloting was fairly conducted, that Tommy would be ousted from his position, and Briscoe elected in his place. The matter, so far as the chief command was concerned, was settled, and the only question which had not yet been determined was whether or not Tommy should be elected to some other office. Jed, his father, and Clarissa had taken position in the middle of the road, where they could observe the movements of the battalion. They were evidently willing that we should continue our march, and I hoped Tommy would be sensible enough to adopt this course, though it was expecting rather too much of him to permit his enemy to remain unpunished for a single day. He wheeled the battalion into line, and THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 57 capered the sorrel pony along a couple of times in front, glancing fiercely from his warriors to the enemy before the house, apparently doubtful in regard to his next move. Finally he halted, and it was evident that he intended to make a speech. " Fellows, I have been insulted ! " said he, savagely. " Shall it be said that the whole battalion was beaten back by two men and two women ? " "The whole battalion was not beaten back," re- torted Corporal Dunbold. " Silence in the ranks ! " exclaimed the major. "Will you stand by me, or not?" " We will ! " shouted Tommy's adherents ; but the rest of the line said nothing. "I thought you would. I was not willing to be- lieve that my fellows would desert me when I wanted them most. I'm going to give that Jed a mauling; if I don't, there will be some bones broken some- where." Tommy was rapidly lashing himself into a fury, and would soon be in condition to undertake a desperate enterprise. I did not think he would face the hot water again ; but the foe still stood in the road, seem- 58 SWITCH OFF, OK, ingly unconscious of peril, and the sight of them was raising the major's blood to the boiling point. "What could he do ? Being only a boy myself, though I claimed to be a gentleman at the same time, I was curious to see the issue of the adventure, while I was firmly resolved to take no part in it, even if I was court-martialed, and dismissed the service for dis- obedience. Ever since the battle on the Horse Shoe, Tommy had been in favor of flank movements. Wolf Penni- man, though no soldier, had taught him a lesson in tactics which he had not learned before. In fact, Wolf seemed to have the tact to manage almost any difficult case. I saw the major survey the locality of the barn, in the rear of the house, and the fields adjoining. I had no doubt he was planning a diver- sion. " Captain Skotchley, you will march your company through this field to the rear of the barn, and there await further orders," said Tommy, addressing me, with a flourish of his sword to point out the lot through which I was to pass. The field indicated was ejreen with new wheat, and THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 59 to march through it would be to inflict serious injury upon the farmer. I at once came to the conclusion that the order was an unreasonable one. " That is a wheat field, Major Toppleton," I mildly suggested, though I knew very well that my remark would have no weight with the headstrong young magnate. " What of it ? " demanded he. "Marching through that field will damage the wheat." "I don't care if it does! It belongs to this old farmer, whose son insulted me. He takes his son's part, and he must also bear the consequences." "But he can prosecute you in the court for trespass, and make you pay the damage." " I don't care for the damage. I'm going to be even with that fellow before I leave this place." "I would rather not take part in doing this mis- chief," I replied. "I suppose you mean to say that my order is an unreasonable one." " I did not put it in just that form, but that is what I mean." 60 SWITCH OFF, OR "I suspended you once, Captain Skotchley." "I am aware that you did." " As you obeyed my next order, I was going to let it pass, and say nothing more about it," said Tommy, biting his lips. "I will obey any and every order which comes within the line of my duty." "A soldier should obey his superior without any question," retorted the major. "Not always," I replied. " Yes, always ! " exclaimed Tommy, fiercely. " Suppose the colonel of the regiment, in a time of peace, should order one of his captains to shoot ten men of his company," I suggested, calling up a sup- position which had been used in the lecture-room of the Institute. " That is not a supposable case." " The colonel might be attacked with sudden in- sanity." " Do you mean to say I am insane ? " " I did not say anything of the kind. Our lecturer on military tactics was willing to grant that there could be instances when the inferior was not bound THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 61 to obey the superior — nay, where it was his duty to disobey him." " If there are such cases, this is not one of them," growled Tommy. " I think it is. The battalion is out upon a tour of camp duty ; and in everything relating to that I will obey orders. But I won't have anything to do with avenging fancied insults." "Then you think that pulling me off my horse, and pitching me into the dirt, is only a fancied insult?" sneered Tommy. " That was only part of the affair," I replied. " You ought to prosecute the man in court. You have no right to take the law into your own hands." " Shut up ! " snapped Tommy, as he rode away from me in disgust. 62 SWITCH OFF, OB CHAPTER VI. THE BATTLE IN" THE WHEAT FIELD. ^OMMY had been talking with Haven, the first lieutenant of Company A, who was a reckless and unprincipled fellow, and it was probable that he had indicated a plan by which Jed might be properly punished for his temerity. The order I refused to obey directed me to march to the rear of the barn, and there await further instructions. The next com- mand would have been to capture the fiery colt, pull down the cow-shed, or assault the hens and chickens — something to make a row which would divert the attention of the farmer's family, and call them to the scene of action. Then the first company would doubt- less have been ordered to march up to the front of the house, empty out the hot water in the wash- boiler, capture the garden syringe, and lie in wait for the awful Jed. THE WAB OF THE STUDENTS. 63 Major Toppleton rode up to Briscoe, and repeated the order he had given to me. Of course the cap- tain of the first company refused to obey. He was a sensible fellow, and knew that boys who were merely playing soldier would not be justified in doing mis- chief which could only have been tolerated in time of war, upon urgent necessity. Tommy was as much in earnest as though the country had been invaded by a warlike host, and its salvation depended upon the energy of his movements. " Captains Briscoe and Skotchley are suspended from further duty, and will consider themselves under ar- rest," said the little major, pompously. "They shall be tried by court martial when we halt at noon to-day." Tommy then gave his order to march to the rear of the barn to Faxon, the first lieutenant of my com- pany. He followed my example, and Barnscott was placed in command. He was ready to obey any orders, no matter what they were. He would have set the barn on fire, if Tommy had told him to do eo. He gave the necessary commands for moving the company towards the field, but only the twenty- five who had obeyed him before were willing to do 64 SWITCH OFF, OR so now. Tommy stormed, and even swore, after the manner of Ms father in such emergencies; but the rest of the company, thirty-five in number, were as resolute as their suspended officers, and refused to move into the field. The moment the fellows began to leap over the fence, the old man and Jed rushed forward to pre- vent the mischief. They yelled with a vigor which did credit to their lungs, and, with clubs in their hands, placed themselves in the way of the advan- cing column. They were not content merely to stand before the troops ; but they commenced a furious attack upon them with the sticks in their 'hands. Though bayonets are generally awkward weapons to run upon, the old man and his son did not seem to hold them in terror. Tommy, furiously excited by this actual warfare, ordered the first company to march to the front of the house. At this movement Clarissa rushed into the house ; but she presently appeared with the old lady, bearing the boiler of hot water. The women were quite as belligerent as the men, and a few clip- pers of hot soap suds compelled the brave boys of THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 65 Company A to retreat into the road again. But Ha- ven, the master spirit of mischief, led his hot-water- battered forces over the fence above the house into the farmer's garden, and moved towards the rear of the barn, doing no little damage to beets, carrots, cabbages, and peas. In the mean time, the old man and his son were fighting a very unequal battle with Company B — two against twenty-five. In the struggle, the young wheat was trodden down, and the ground torn up by the feet of the combatants. Briscoe and I were appalled at the probable consequences of the strife. A thrust of a bayonet might kill Jed or his father ; while, at the best, our fellows were making fearful havoc in the grain field. " Skotchley, this is rascally ! " exclaimed Briscoe. " I know it," I replied, with no little feeling, for I was disgusted with the strife. . "I don't know but we are just as guilty in look- ing on as we should be if we took part in it. I am willing, for one, to go in and stop this thing." "So am I." " We are going to stop this thing, fellows ! " 5 66 SWITCH OFF, OR shouted Briscoe, with energy. " Will you stand by us?" "Yes, yes!" replied the line. "Hold on a minute, Briscoe," I interposed, as a bright thought flashed upon my mind. " Where is Fryes ? " " Here he is. Fryes ! " called Briscoe. " Blow the retreat," I added, as the leader of the band presented himself, with his bugle in his hand. Although this was not exactly a piece of infantry tactics, we had practised it in our studies, and the bugle call was well known to all the troops. Indeed, we had been taught the drill and evolutions of all arms of the service. Fryes blew the refrain, and it was heard by both of the companies, or rather the fragments of them which were in the field and behind the barn. Tommy, being on his horse, had been un- able to follow either detachment to the service upon which he had ordered them. The troops who were engaged with the farmer and his son, in the wheat field, appeared to receive the bugle blast as a wel- come sound, for, without waiting for any orders from their officers, they made haste to get over the fence THE "WAR OE THE STUDENTS. 67 into the road. The conflict had begun to flag in this quarter, and our fellows were certainly getting the worst of it. I do not wish to have it understood that this fight- ing was very perilous to either party, for both took particular care to keep out of each other's way. It was simply running up and running back again, though one or two of our boys got a rap from the stick in the hands of Jed. If the conflict had con- tinued a few moments longer, I think they would have been driven out of the field. But I was afraid some accident would happen to somebody. By the time the second company had scaled the fence, the other appeared, coming at the double-quick towards the road, without any regard to the safety and future welfare of young beets, cabbages, and other garden vegetables. Major Tommy began to fly around on his little steed, for I learned that he had just sent a message to Haven, in the rear of the barn, to march into the wheat field, and take the old man and his son in the rear, intending to surround and capture them. Of course, when he saw his carefully laid plan, defeated, he was angry and excited, as usual. 68 SWITCH OFF, OE " Who blew that retreat ? " demanded he, fiercely, as he galloped his steed up to the place where Fryes stood. "I. did," replied the chief musician, blandly. "What did you do that for?" " I was trying my bugle." " Trying your bugle ! I will give you a lesson be- fore I have done with you." " A lesson on the bugle ? " asked Fryes. " None of your impudence ! " exclaimed Tommy, flourishing his sword as though he intended again to inflict corporal chastisement upon the musician. But the little major did not mean anything of the kind. Rash as he was, he had a certain degree of prudence which did not permit him to hit the wrong person. If Tommy had struck him again, he would have been on the ground in the twinkling of an eye ; for Fryes was a high-spirited fellow, who would not endure a second blow, especially from Tommy, whom he despised as a tyrant. "I beg your pardon if I said anything impudent, major. I only answered your question," replied Fryes, with his usual gravity. THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 69 "Don't you blow that bugle again without orders from me." The leader of the band did not even suggest that he had received an order from me to sound the re- treat. He was always willing to take the responsi- bility; but Briscoe and I were ready to share it with him. " Barnscott ! " called the major. The lieutenant of the second company, who had gathered his weary warriors near the spot where I stood, marched up to the major, and saluted him. He was still out of breath with the violence of his exertions in the field, or rather with the haste of his retreat, for his party had been closely pursued by the old man and his son. "March your company back, and don't mind the bugle again." "Major Toppleton, this thing has gone far enough," said Briscoe, stepping up to the little major. " What do you mean by that, Briscoe ? " " I mean to say, for one, that I won't stand by any longer and see the farmer's crop destroyed." "I say it, for another," I added. 70 SWITCH OFF, OK tions. Briscoe then cautioned his officers and men to treat our rivals as though they were our best friends. THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 273 The speech concluded, the battalion broke into column, and we marched out on the Southport • road. We halted just outside of the town, and Bris- coe appointed me to go forward and meet the Wim- pletonians. I was to "do the pleasant" in the most agreeable manner, to tender the escort, and arrange the formalities according to the instructions given me by the major. I walked about half a mile, and stopped to view a beautiful cascade. While I was appreciating its beauties, I heard the drum-beat of the Wimpleton column. I waited until it came up. Magnanimous as I was disposed to be on my er- and of peace, I „could not help feeling that our rivals did not quite come up to our standard. Their uniforms were not so new and bright, and they had only a drum corps. I stepped up to Major Ben Pinkerton, who was in command, and, saluting him with my sword, delivered my message. "That's handsome, and I'm very much obliged to you," replied the major. "I'll speak to our fel- lows, and give you an answer in a few moments." He halted his column, and, after consulting his officers and men, informed me that the polite offer 18 274 SWITCH OFF, OR of Major Briscoe was gratefully accepted. I had delicacy enough to retire, after I had stated the pro- gramme suggested by my commander, in order to enable Major Pinkerton to give such instructions to his force as the unexpected meeting might require. I did not hear what he said to them, but I have no doubt they were substantially the same as those to Which I had listened in our own battalion. The march was resumed, and in due time, the Wimpletonians reached our battalion, which was drawn up in line at the side of the road. "Present — arms!" shouted Major Briscoe; and the band played the appropriate air. The Centreport battalion marched by the other, and, in turn, forming at the side of the road, pre- sented arms, while we marched in front of it. We then took the head of the column, and escorted our guests into Hitaca, where we were received with ap- plause. On the ground appropriated to the "Wimple- tonians Ave presented arms again. The two majors met, shook hands, and appeared to be the best of friends. In fact it was a jolly time. We helped the Wimps pitch their tents, and did all we could to THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 275 assist thern. Such a fraternizing of ancient enemies was never seen, and I began to think we should get to hugging one another before the scene was finished. At seven o'clock we formed again. More cour- tesies followed. The majors each reviewed the bat- talion of the other, and we marched in one column to the festivities of the evening. We had a grand time, — all the better for the sudden and unexpected meeting with the Wimpletonians. At ten we went to our camps. 276 SWITCH OFF, OK CHAPTER XXVI. TOPPLETON TRIUMPHANT. AT an early hour the next morning, Briscoe called me, and the battalion was soon on its feet. At half past five we had finished breakfast, and everything was ready to embark in the steamer. Not a little to our surprise, we saw that the Wim- pletonians, who were encamped near us, were under arms. Knowing that we were to leave before them, they tendered us an escoi't, which was gratefully ac- cepted. We marched down to the landing-place, countermarched, presented arms, and saluted, each battalion in its turn. When we were on the prom- enade deck of the boat, we cheered each other with abundant good will. So far as the relations of the two Institutes were concerned, the millennium ap- peared to have come ; for, instead of battling with each other on the slopes of the Horse Shoe, as we had done THE WAR OP THE STUDENTS. 277 during the preceding season, we were trying to see which could outdo the other in courtesy and good feeling. As the Ucayga did not start till three quarters of an hour later, Wolf Penniman came on board of the steamer to see us. No one could have been more delighted than he was when he saw the rival acade- mies on such friendly terms. He declared that it did his heart good to see the sight, and that he should almost be willing to die if he could only see Colonel "Wimpleton and Major Toppleton reconciled to each other. " I have some hopes of it," he added, " after what I have seen to-day and last evening." " I don't know," I replied, doubtfully. " They have been quarrelling for several years, and it will be hard for them to make up." "To brake up, you mean," added Wolf, in railroad parlance. " Since Waddie and Tommy have both switched of£ it is possible that their fathers may brake up. But how was Tommy when you left him?" " He was quite sick. I sat with him most of the 278 SWITCH OFF, OR time, in ray state-room, during the passage, and I was satisfied that he bad indeed switched off. He con- fessed to me that he had been rather rough on the fellows. "When the boat arrived at Centreport, he concluded to go down to Ucayga with me, and return so that I could see him home at noon. I think the events of the last few clays have knocked the conceit all out of him. Pie is particularly grateful to you, Ned, for what you did, after he had treated you so shabbily. That's what turns an enemy into a friend." "I was trying to imitate your example, Wolf, for I believe in it." " O, my example is nothing ! So far as Waddie was concerned, I only did what my mother taught me — 'Love your enemies.' That's the true principle. It is hard sometimes, but it pays in the long run, or the short one either. I only hope that Tommy will do as well as Waddie has done. After we had landed our passengers at Centreport, I ran the Ucayga over to Middleport, and, procuring a carriage, conveyed Tommy to his father's house. The family were very much alarmed about him, and sent for the physician. THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 279 1 shouldn't wonder if lie had a fever. I staid with him till it was time for the boat to make her after- noon trip." " Did you see Grace ? " I asked. " I did," replied Wolf, blushing. " She was very- grateful to us for what we had done for her brother. I shall see him again to-day noon." The bell rang for the departure of the boat, and Wolf hurried on shore. As the old steamer worked out from the wharf, the Wimpletonians cheered us again, and we lustily returned their parting salute. I saw Wacldie in the ranks, as I had seen him several times before. He did his duty as a private, and I was told that he never even suggested any orders, much less dictated the movements of the battalion. When he was consulted, he gave his opinion freely ; but he never put himself forward, and positively refused to accept any office. Our battalion formed almost the entire company of passengers on the railroad boat. The fight between the two lines did not rage very fiercely after the first season. Major Toppleton always said he intended to do something to recover his lost ground, but he 280 SWITCH OFF, OR had accomplished nothing yet. He had caused a partial survey to be made for a continuation of the Lake Shore Railroad to Hitaca, but the expense of constructing the road through the wild region was too appalling even for him. Colonel Wimpleton was waiting to see what the major intended to do. When he found that the Ucayga, working according to the plan arranged by Wolf, took the greater portion of the travel, he concluded not to build another steamer at present. The steamboat line was paying well, and another boat might carry the balance over to the other side of the ledger. On the other hand, the Lake Shore Railroad was doing a good business with its local freight and pas- sengers, so that the major hesitated before he em- barked on a new venture. The first excitement of the competition had subsided, and I am sorry to add, that the personal habits of Colonel Wimpleton were such that he did not give much attention to business of any kind. Our battalion landed at Gulfport, and immediately marched for Ceutreport, where the prize drill was to THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 281 take place. At the picnic grounds we halted for rest and drill. The companies were addressed by the major and by the captains, in order to fire their zeal in the approaching friendly contest with the Wim- pletonians. Our fellows drilled splendidly, and I was morally certain that we should carry off the banner. The march was resumed, and when we arrived at the entrance of the town, we were met by the Wimple- tonians, who had come down from Hitaca in the Ucayga. All the courtesies we had practised before were gone through with again ; and under their escort we marched to the green in front of the "VVimpleton Institute, where the drill was to take place. Already a great crowd of people from both sides of the lake had assembled to witness the show. The two battalions were dismissed for half an hour, and our new-made friends invited us to the refectory of the Institute, where a substantial collation had been pro- vided for the contestants. The rival students min- gled together in harmony, and the utmost good will prevailed. Parties on both sides declared that what- ever the result of the contest, they should be satis- fied ; and there were not wanting those on each side who hoped that the other would win the prize. 282 SWITCH OFF, OK Colonel Wimpleton was present, but Major Topple- ton was detained at home by the illness of Tommy. The judges were West Pointers, having no interest in either party, and we all expected a just judgment from them. At one o'clock we formed in line, and both battalions were reviewed by Colonel Wimpleton and the judges. Then each company alternately, one from the Centreport battalion, and then one from the Middleport, was drilled separately. The Wimpletoni- ans followed with their battalion movements, and the contest was concluded by the Toppletonians. There were three judges, each of whom estimated the excellence of each company and each battalion on a scale of one hundred. The average of their figures, made without consultation among themselves, was taken as the mark of the company or battalion. As the Wimpleton battalion had three companies, while the other had but two, two thirds of the total of its marks were taken as its aggregate for the company drill. The results of the company and the battalion drill of each party were then added together, and the one which had the most was entitled to the banner. The chairman of the judges, after a hollow square THE WAE OF THE STUDENTS. 283 of both battalions bad been formed, stepped forward to announce the decision. He began by commending both parties for the friendly spirit they had exhibited. He then praised the general excellence of the drill in both battalions, declaring that it would compare very favorably with that of any volunteer organization which the speaker had ever witnessed. Both sides lustily applauded this statement, and when the noise had subsided, the chairman proceeded to read the figures of the several judges. The Toppleton battal- ion was ninety-three, while the Wimpleton was eighty- four; and Company A of the former had the highest mark for company drill. These results decided the contest in our favor, and the banner was awarded to Toppleton by a majority of twenty-two marks. The Wimpletonians applauded with all their might. When the result had been read, I saw Colonel Wim- pleton biting his lips ; but if he was disposed to in- dulge in any unpleasant remarks, the generous conduct of the battalion which bore his name silenced him. It was a fair thing all around ; but it ought to be said, in justice to the Wimpletonians, that they had many new recruits, whose clumsiness affected the general result. 2S4 SWITCH OFF, OR Our fellows were more than satisfied : they had won the prize; but what was better, they had won the hearts of their rivals. The beginning of all this friendly feeling was the act of Briscoe in tendering the escort to the Wimpletonians. A sneer, a few hard words, or even a little coldness on our part, would have kept alive and fanned the old feeling of resent- ment. We had not been able to beat our rivals on the hard-fought field of the Horse Shoe, but we had conquered them with the mighty weapon of love, and our victory was complete. " Love your enemies," Wolf would have said, if he had been there ; and the blessed truth is as good for boys' play as it is for the serious business of life. The Wimpletonians invited us to spend the after- noon with them, and we did so. Towards night we were ferried across the lake by our friends, and everything was "lovely" to the end. As soon as our battalion landed, I hastened to the house of Major Toppleton, to see Tommy. He was really very sick ; but he was glad to see me, and I told him all that had transpired since he left us. He was very sorry for the loss of Jed's colt ; but he smiled with genu- THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 285 ine satisfaction when I told him how we had made friends of the Wimpletonians. I could not believe he was the same arrogant, con- ceited, tyrannical Tommy Toppleton I had known so long ; but he was sick, and there was no assurance that he would not have a moral relapse when his physical health was restored. For a fortnight he did not go out of his chamber. Every day, at noon, Wolf came over to see him — and Grace. Then he began to improve, and in a short time went out. Then "Wolf told him about Waddie, and the vast change which had been wrought in him; how everybody on the other side loved him, and would do anything for him ; and how Ben Pinkerton had insisted upon resigning, in order that Waddie might be again elected major of the battalion. Tommy listened to the story with deep interest. He did not say anything. lie made no promises, as his rival and prototype on the other side had done; but as the months rolled on, we realized that he was another fellow. He imitated the example of Waddie, and took his place as a private in one of the companies. I shall never forget the love and devo- 286 SWITCH OFF, OE tion which his mother and Grace always manifested towards him, for he was another hoy in the house as well as abroad. His father was more reserved, and said nothing; but he could not help being impressed by the altered behavior of his son. If Colonel Wimpleton and Major Topjileton still kept up their former ill will and resentment, it was confined to them, for the two Institutes could, no longer be regarded as the rival academies. Each visited the other occasionally, and at one of these meetings some one proposed that the two battalions should be consolidated into a regiment. Tommy and Waddie, who had cordially joined hands, favored the proposition. It was carefully discussed for a whole afternoon, and a committee appointed to arrange the union. The two battalions agreed to meet the next holiday on the Horse Shoe to hear the report. "When the day came, it proved to be an exceedingly interesting occasion. The committee reported that each battalion should retain its present organization for separate parades. Field and staff officers were to be elected or appointed for joint parades. A colonel and lieutenant colonel were to be elected. Pinkerton THE WAR OF THE STUDENTS. 287 was to be major, and* Briscoe adjutant. A ballot for the two field officers to be elected resulted in the choice of Tommy Toppleton as colonel, and Waddie Wimpleton as lieutenant colonel, for they were really the two most popular fellows in the regiment, under the new order of things. Both of them, with the modesty becoming the new life upon which they had entered, declined, and insisted that Pinkerton and Briscoe should have the highest positions; but we finally persuaded them to accept, and we were never sorry for their action or our own. In the fall, the regiment marched entirely around the lake, using a fortnight for the tour, and had a magnificent time. "We did not stop at Trottwood's this time, though we saw Jed and his father at work in the field. They never troubled Christy Holgate, and I doubt whether he ever went near them. Peace and harmony reigned throughout the regiment. We camped one night on High Bluff, and laughed over the war of the students which had been fought there ; but I think all of us were satisfied with the final re- sult, when Tommy Toppleton switched off. Christy Holgate was not disturbed by the officers 288 SWITCH OFF. of justice. He was a temperate, well-behaved man, and no one was disposed to meddle with him after he had made all the reparation in his power for his crime. Mr. Penniman divided the labor on the boat with him, so that Christy ran the Ucayga from Centreport to Hitaca, and down to the same point the next morning. This arrangement enabled the Pennimans to occupy their place in Middleport, though Wolf was absent much of the time. Christy moved his family to Hitaca, so that he was with them every night. But I have told my part of the story, and if the moral of it is not already apparent, I will simply add, that, when you find yourself leading a wicked or use- less life, — in other words, when you are on the wrong track, — do as my good friend Tommy Toppleton did — SWITCH OFF. ro/» REV. ELIJAH KELLOGG S s ELM ISLAND STORIES. Six foh Kmo. Illustrated. Per vol., $1.28. .1. Lion Ben of Elm Island. 3, Charlie Bell. 3. The Ark of Elm Island. 4. The Boy Farmers of Elm Island. 5. The Young Shipbuilders of Elm Island. 0. The Hardsorabble of Elm Island. "There is no sentimentalism in this series. It is all downright matter-of-fact boy life, and of course they are deeply interested in read- ing it The history of pioneer life is so attractive that one involuntarily wishes to renew those early struggles with adverse circumstances^ and join the busy actors in their successful efforts to build up pleasant homes on our 3ea-girt islands. — Zu>?i's H*rala\ \£E & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. Illustrated Natural History. YOUNG HUNTER'S LIBRARY. By MBS. R. Lee. Four volumes. Illustrated. Per vol., $L6Q. The Australian Wanderers. The Adventures of Captain Spencer and his Horse and Dog in the Wilds of Aus- tralia. The African Crusoes. The Adventures of Carlos and Antonio in the Wilds of Africa. Anecdotes of Animals, With their Habits, Instincts, &c, &c. Anecdotes of Birds, Pishes, Rep- tiles, &c, their Habits and Instincts. 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