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 THE RESPECTABLE GENTLEMAN

BOWING POLITELY TO THE PILLAR BOXES

to fetch the liquorice, but not one, not even the pluckful Chad, would venture to return alone to Killgruel along the dreary mountain road in the gathering night. Bill then suggested that two or three should return together and keep each other company, but it was of no avail. At last, the only way out of the difficulty that occurred to Bill was for half the army to return for the liquorice, and the other half to remain in the woods; but here yet another difficulty arose, for no one would stay in the woods with the army weakened to that extent.

At length Bill returned to the whimpering old potentate and once more endeavoured to dissuade 103