This closing scene was brief but striking , for two trains of cars whizzed in from opposite sides , met with a terrible collision in the middle of the stage , and a general smash-up completed the word catastrophe . `` Now let us act a proverb . I 've got one all ready , '' said Rose , who was dying to distinguish herself in some way before Uncle Alec . So everyone but Mac , the gay Westerner , and Rose , took their places on the rocky seats and discussed the late beautiful and varied charade , in which Pokey frankly pronounced her own scene the `` bestest of all . '' In five minutes the curtain was lifted ; nothing appeared but a very large sheet of brown paper pinned to a tree , and on it was drawn a clock-face , the hands pointing to four . A small note below informed the public that 4 A.M. was the time . Hardly had the audience grasped this important fact when a long waterproof serpent was seen uncoiling itself from behind a stump . An inch-worm , perhaps , would be a better description , for it travelled in the same humpy way as that pleasing reptile . Suddenly a very wide-awake and active fowl advanced , pecking , chirping , and scratching vigorously . A tuft of green leaves waved upon his crest , a larger tuft of brakes made an umbrageous tail , and a shawl of many colours formed his flapping wings . A truly noble bird , whose legs had the genuine strut , whose eyes shone watchfully , and whose voice had a ring that evidently struck terror into the catterpillar 's soul , if it was a catterpillar . He squirmed , he wriggled , he humped as fast as he could , trying to escape ; but all in vain . The tufted bird espied him , gave one warbling sort of crow , pounced upon him , and flapped triumphantly away . `` That early bird got such a big worm he could hardly carry him off , '' laughed Aunt Jessie , as the children shouted over the joke suggested by Mac 's nickname . `` That is one of uncle 's favourite proverbs , so I got it up for his especial benefit , '' said Rose , coming up with the two-legged worm beside her . `` Very clever ; what next ? '' asked Dr. Alec as she sat down beside him . `` The Dove boys are going to give us an ` Incident in the Life of Napoleon , ' as they call it ; the children think it very splendid , and the little fellows do it rather nicely , '' answered Mac with condescension . A tent appeared , and pacing to and fro before it was a little sentinel , who , in a brief soliloquy , informed the observers that the elements were in a great state of confusion , that he had marched some hundred miles or so that day , and that he was dying for want of sleep . Then he paused , leaned upon his gun , and seemed to doze ; dropped slowly down , overpowered with slumber , and finally lay flat , with his gun beside him , a faithless little sentinel .
Enter XXXXX , cocked hat , gray coat , high boots , folded arms , grim mouth , and a melodramatic stride .
A.M. Alec Napoleon clock-face colours fro inch-worm reptile soliloquy tuft