HE KICKED AND STRUGGLED VIOLENTLY

“Scamp, good-for-nothing,” he cried. “I will pay you out for this. Arrest this vulgar person,” he ordered, “and lock him up in the prison.”

Our peasant, however, had no intention of being led like a lamb to the slaughter. He kicked and struggled violently, and made such an uproar in the guard-room that the Emperor heard it.

The latter soon arrived on the scene and was struck dumb on hearing that the peasant had had the effrontery to strike a

A PEASANT WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO CATCH IT

superior officer in the face. It was too much. The Emperor told the peasant what a very serious offence he had committed in flouting the military authority.