One adventure into which he was led came near
having serious consequences.
Pomp, in common with other village boys of his age, had watched
with considerable interest the boys 'company, as they drilled
publicly or paraded through the main street, and he had conceived
a strong desire to get hold of a musket, to see if he, too, could
not go through with the manual.
Frank generally put his musket carefully away, only bringing it
out when it was needful. One morning, however, he had been out on
a hunting-expedition, and on his return left the musket in the
corner of the shed.
Pomp espied it when he entered the house, and resolved, if
possible, to take temporary possession of it after his lesson was
over. Having this in view, he worked with an uncommon degree of
industry, and in less time than usual had learned and said his
lesson.
"Very well, Pomp," said his teacher approvingly. "You have worked
unusually well to-day. If you keep on you will make quite a
scholar some day."
'I's improvin', isn't I?" inquired Pomp, with an appearance of
interest.
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