vi.J THE RED BARON. 287

 

of the old chairs, and carefully laid a fire, placing on
the top of the smaller bits of wood the large arm of a
venerable arm-chair which he thought would be sure
to smoulder on and last some way into the night.
Then, having previously placed his food upon the old
table, he drew the latter as near the fireplace as he
could, and, taking from his pocket a box of matches
which he always carried about him, struck a light, and
applied it to the bed-hangings in the grate. They
caught at once, and it seemed for a moment as if he
would very quickly have a blazing fire. But the wood
of the chairs seemed doubtful about catching light as
soon as our traveller could wish, and therefore he
knelt downgbefore the fireplace, stooped forward, and
lowering his head to the proper level, began to blow
softly at first and then more vigorously, in order to
kindle the flame which appeared to require this en-
couragement.

As he was thus employed, all of a sudden he re-
ceived a violent kick upon a part of his body which
in the stooping position that he had assumed was
naturally exposed to the attack of an enemy, and so
totally unexpected was the assault that he very nearly
fell forward against the bars of the grate. Enraged
beyond measure, and astonished even more than he
was enraged, at this extraordinary attack, at such a
time and in such a place, the traveller jumped up and
faced round in the greatest indignation.

“ At,a short distance from him stood a little Red
man: indisputably and decidedly a little Red man,
for everything he had on was of that colour, even to
the conical-shaped hat upon his head, like the paper