THE SLAB. 103

“ He isn’t bigger than Eben,” said Lucy.

The water was very shallow in the stream,
and there were stones between where the boy
was, and the shore, almost near enough for step-
ping-stones. Comfort looked at them a moment,
and then she said, —

* Can’t you step over on these stones ?”

“No,” said the boy, “not unless they come
and help me.”

“Who come and help you?”

“Why, Roger and the other boy.”

“Who is Roger?” said Comfort, “and where
is he?”

“T don’t know where he js,” said the boy.

“He does not know any thing,” said Comfort
to Lucy, in an under tone. In fact, Comfort was
almost out of patience with the boy, because he
could not give any better account of himself;
though she ought not to have been out of pa-
tience with him, for he was very small, and then
he was very much frightened, both at his situation
and on account of the strangers.

“Do you suppose, Lucy, that I could get over
on those stones, and help him off?”

“Why, yes,” said Lucy, “ perhaps so.”

‘“[’'m afraid I shall fall into the water,” said