of aim. One was "Choppy," and the other, Billy, was "Cousin Choppy." Their
playmates were generally considerate and did not apply these titles unless
they "got mad." Forgetting themselves, these titles might be sent flying
about freely as snow-balls in a January thaw. There was Worthington
Wentworth. It takes a long breath and a very straight throat to say that,
and we will not repeat it, but will call him Wort Wentworth, as the boys
did. His hair was twisted all over his head, like a brush fence, and his
black eyes were very lively. He was one of the rogues of the club, and at
school took more rattannings, as a mark of his teacher's affection, than
any other boy. Juggie Jones--full name Jugurtha Bonaparte Jones--was a
little colored fellow lately from the South, now living with his granny, a
washer-woman, in a little yellow house at the head of the lane. He was
always laughing and showing his white teeth. He was a great favorite with
the boys. Wort and Juggie were of the same age as Charlie,--nine. Pip or
Piper Peckham, aged eight, was a big-eyed, black-haired, little fellow
with a peaked face. Timid, sensitive to neglect, very fond of notice, he
was sometimes a subject for the tricks of his playmates. Then there was
Tony or Antonio Blanco, a late arrival at Seamont. He was an olive-faced,
black-haired, shy little fellow. When he spoke, he used English, but his
accent was Italian. He was rarely heard from. An air of mystery encircled
him. Whether his father was a count in Italy or a seller of pea-nuts in
New York, no one at Seamont had been able to say for a month, and that was
a long time in circles of gossip. It was finally asserted that his father
lived in Italy. Tony was of the same age as Pip.

Concerning Charlie we shall find out farther along.

"Will the gentlemen please come to order," shouted Sid Waters, pompously,"
and sit--sit--on the floor?"