The wrangle increased, the boys danced more energetically, the small fists of the boy at bay were on closer guard.
"Hi, there!" sung out Amidon.

"Look at here; there's too many of ye.
Look out ye don't git into no mischief, now." "Hullo, boys! what's the trouble ?" shouted the postmaster, in a voice of authority.

He was used to running these same boys out of his office when they became too boisterous during the distribution of the mails, making precipitate dashes from the inner sanctum of the United States government.

They were accustomed to the sound of his important shout, and a few eyes rolled over shoulder at him.

But they soon plunged again into their little whirlpool of excitement, for they were quick-witted and not slow to reason that they were now on the king's highway where they had as much right as the postmaster, and could not be coerced under his authority.
"What is it all about ?" the postmaster called, loudly, above the hubbub, to Anderson.
Anderson shook his head.