58 BRAGGADOCIO.

our ship. Sally will testify that I didn’t think
it was a live crittur.”

Here a laugh, long and loud, burst forth
from the motley group. The fat boy stopped
his jig, and the six-fingered girl ran to get
a peep at the “ live crittur.”

“Make way,” said Howard, with an air of
command. ‘“ Make way; let us get out of this
place as quick as possible.”

George, holding his handkerchief over the
wounded eye, was glad to escape.

The sailor said, “‘Come, follow, my lads, in
my wake. Sally and I will make an opening
for you. I know every kind of craft that sails
on the sea; but I find I am an ignorant ramus
about land craft. I would rather have cut off
a piece of one of my own ears than done you
a damage. Mister, take my advice, next time
you go to a Museum, don’t strut so exac’ly in
the posture of that wax figur’ of Gineral Laf-
fyetty at the tomb of Mount Vernon.”

George was restored to good humor by this
well-meant advice. |

They were now safely out of the crowd, and
hastened towards the hotel, which was not far