CHAPTER IX.
AN OLD BOY.
By the exercise of wonderful self-control, Frank and Johnny succeeded in restraining their risibilities until they reached the barn, and then one leaned against the door-post, while the other seated himself upon the floor, both holding their sides, and giving vent to peals of uproarious laughter.
"O dear!" exclaimed Frank, "I shall never dare look that fellow in the face again.

'Icebergs of India!' 'Burning sands of Patagonia!' How my jaws ache!" "I wonder what part of Europe he visited to find his lions and tigers ?" said Johnny.

"And how do you suppose he escaped from the Indians when they had him bound to the stake?
We must ask him about that." "How old is he ?" inquired Frank.
"He says he is sixteen." "Well, he is older than that, if he risked his life in battles with the Algerians; for, if my memory serves me, Decatur settled our accounts with those gentlemen in the year 1815.

That would make our new friend old enough to be a grandfather.

He holds his age well, doesn't he ?" Then the two boys looked up at the rafters, and laughed louder than ever.
"I remember of hearing old Captain Porter say," observed Johnny, as soon as he could speak, "that the strongest and most active man that ever lived could not whip a grizzly in a fair fight; and that the bravest hunter would take to his heels if he found himself in close quarters with one of those animals, and would not think he was guilty of cowardice, either." "And what I have seen with my own eyes confirms it," said Frank.