You know mighty well either your dad or mine would have skinned us alive if we'd done such a thing when we was young-ones.

And," turning to the culprit, "if you fetch that cat in there, I'll--I'll--I don't know what I'll do." The Sunday school picnic was to be held on the second Saturday in June and Mary-'Gusta wished to attend it.

She had never been to a real picnic, though the other children in Ostable had described such outings in glowing colors.

Now, although she, a visitor, was not a regular member of the South Harniss Methodist Sunday school, the superintendent personally had invited her to go and Zoeth and the Captain had given their consent.

Not to go would be a heart-breaking calamity.