“What are you doing?” said Rodolphus.
“Putting a wire netting over the chimney,” said Beechnut.
“What for!” asked Rodolphus.
“To keep the chimney-swallows from getting in,” said Beechnut.
“Are you coming down pretty soon?” asked Rodolphus.
“Yes,” said Beechnut. “Go down the ladder and wait till I come.”
So Rodolphus went down the ladder again to Annie.
“What is the reason,” said Annie, “that you obey Beechnut so much better than you do my father?”
“Oh, I don't know,” said Rodolphus. “He makes me, I suppose.”
It was true that Beechnut made Rodolphus obey him—that is, in all cases where he was under any obligation to obey him. One day, when he first became acquainted with Beechnut, he went out upon the pond in Beechnut's boat. He wished to row, but Beechnut preferred that some other boy should row, and directed Rodolphus to sit down upon one of the thwarts. Rodolphus would not do this, but was determined to row, and he attempted to take away one of the oars by force. Beechnut immediately turned the head of the boat toward the shore, and when he reached the shore he directed four of the strongest boys to put Rodolphus out upon the sand, and then when they had done this he sailed away in the boat again. Rodolphus took up clubs and stones, and began to throw them at the boat. Beechnut came back again, and seizing Rodolphus, he tied his hands behind him with a strong cord. When he was thus secured Beechnut said to him,