CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.
HANNIBAL TROTTER THE HERO--A CHAPTER OF AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
We know that it always is, or should be, embarrassing to a hero to recite the history of his own exploits.

So if this simple narrative strikes the reader as defective, he must excuse it for that reason.

For I am in this painful position, that as no one else will recount my adventures for me, I have nothing left but to do it myself.

It has surprised me often that it should be so, for there have been times when I have even pictured myself reading the twentieth edition of my own memoirs, and the reviews of the Press on the same.

I am not offended, however, but I am sorry, for it would have been good reading.
Without appearing immodest, may I say that the reader has really no idea what a hero the world has possessed in the person of me, Hannibal Trotter?
It has been my misfortune never to be anything else.