CHAPTER XIV.
A HOT CHASE.
That afternoon, Rectus and I went over to the African settlement to see how the kingdom worked.

It was rather soon, perhaps, to make a call on the new queen, but we were out for a walk, and might as well go that way as any other.
When we came near the house, we heard a tremendous uproar, and soon saw that there was a big crowd in the yard.

We couldn't imagine what was going on, unless the queen had changed her shilling, and was indulging in the luxury of giving a scramble.

We ran up quickly, but the crowd was so large that we could not get into the yard, nor see what all the commotion was about.

But we went over to the side of the yard, and--without being noticed by any of the people, who seemed too much interested to turn around--we soon found out what the matter was.
Priscilla had usurped the throne! The rocking-chair had been brought out and placed again in front of the window, and there sat Priscilla, leaning back at her ease, with the crown on her head, a big fan--made of calf-skin--in her hand, and a general air of superiority pervading her whole being.