Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/60

 of them, and behind them a company of oddly uniformed youngsters, whose movements were governed by the blast of a bugle instead of the word of command. They must have been the ones the guests were waiting for, for when they came in sight, and, following the movements of the military company, executed the maneuver: "Platoons right front into line," which they did with as much soldier-like precision as the veterans themselves, the gentlemen on the veranda cheered them lustily, while the ladies waved their handkerchiefs and bombarded the ranks with bouquets, which were deftly caught by the boys, and impaled upon the ends of their long bows.

"Now, then, can any body tell me who and what those fellows are?" exclaimed Ralph.

"They are the Mount Airy Toxophilites," replied Mr. Farnsworth.

"Lovers of a bow or arrow," said Ralph, who was well up in his Greek. "What do they do?"

"Oh, they have regular shooting-matches, drills and parades, and now and then a hunt and a camp in the woods."