Page 95 of Eleanor’s Earrings

“You criticize everyone.”

“I learned through suffering.”

Rebecca looked interested.

Nathaniel continued. “A sergeant told me to secure twenty barrels of flour before we moved.”

“And?” Eleanor asked.

“I secured them.”

“How?”

“With rope.”

“That seems sensible.”

“It would have been if I had secured the barrels to the wagon.”

The camp began laughing before he finished.

Nathaniel nodded. “I secured them to one another.”

Rebecca groaned.

Eleanor covered her mouth.

“The wagon reached the first slope. The barrels moved as a group.”

“Oh no,” Grace whispered.

“Oh yes.”

“How many fell out?” Thomas asked.

“Seventeen.”

Eleanor bent forward laughing.

Nathaniel waited.

“Seventeen?” she managed.

“Seventeen.”

“What happened?”

“They rolled downhill.”

Lydia was crying with laughter.

“Did you catch them?” Lucy asked.

“No.”

“Where did they go?”

“Through the commanding officer’s tent.”