192 BRAGGADOCIO.

“T have my suspicions,” replied Howard ;
“but I cannot prove the truth of them. I hope
nobody will be so cruel as to burn this house.
Next summer we will try all sorts of experi-
ments here.”

“Yes, indeed we will, for as we study
chemistry and natural philosophy, this winter,
we shall be better able to make experiments.”

Mr. Starr was teaching Tom and Bessie in
the evenings, at home, and they were besides
attending the district school in the day-time.
The first of January was a holiday, and skating
was the order of the day for the boys.

As Howard and Tom were returning from
the island, George Cramer and two other boys
came towards them. |

“ Boys,” called out Tom, “there’s a thin
place in the ice ; you had better not go near it.”

“ Who's afraid? Not I!” exclaimed George
Cramer; “I. go so swiftly that I could skate
over ice no thicker than window-glass. Here
goes |”

George put himself in motion, and sped
swiftly onward, while the other boys stood still
upon their skates, looking anxiously after him.