It is impossible to fathom the minds of rustics; there might be some devilry of practical joking, for anything I knew; or they might have some interest in getting up a bad reputation for the Brentwood avenue.

A queer little dancing gleam leaped up in Piers' eyesthe gleam that had invariably heralded some piece of especial devilry in the days of his boyhood.

It was only when special orders for "frightfulness" had been issued, or when officers in subordinate command let their men get out of hand, or led the way to devilry by their own viciousness of action, that the rank and file of the enemy's army committed its brutalities.

"Oh, he is probably up to some devilry with some fool of a girl," he said in an offhand tone.