I only hope he won't take it into his stupid head to mistake _me_ for him,--not so unlikely a thing, after all." And the youthful Corrie shook his head with much gravity, as he surveyed his rotund little legs complacently.
"What are you laughing at ?" he added, suddenly, on observing that a bright smile had overspread Alice's face.
"At the idea of you being taken for a pirate," said the child.
"Hee! hee! ho! ho!" remarked Poopy.
"Silence, you lump of black putty!" thundered the aspiring youth.
"Come, don't be cross to my maid," said Alice, quickly.
Corrie laughed, and was about to continue his discourse on the events and rumors of the day, when Mr.Mason's voice was heard at the other end of the house.
"Ho! Corrie." "That's me," cried the boy, promptly springing up and rushing out of the room.
"Here, my boy; I thought I heard your voice.

I want you to go a message for me.

Run down, like a good lad, to Ole Thorwald, and tell him to come up here as soon as he conveniently can.

There are matters to consult about which will not brook delay." "Ay, ay, sir," answered Corrie, sailor fashion, as he touched his forelock and bounded from the room.
"Off on pressing business," cried the sanguine youth, as he dashed through the kitchen, frightening Alice, and throwing Toozle into convulsions of delight,--"horribly important business, that 'won't brook delay;' but what _brook_ means is more than I can guess." Before the sentence was finished, Corrie was far down the hill, leaping over every obstacle like a deer.

On passing through a small field he observed a native bending down, as if picking weeds, with his back towards him.