THE SLAB, 105

“ Well, don’t be afraid,” said Lucy. ‘Com-
_ fort has gone to get a slab.”

George did not answer, but he seemed now to
be getting quite composed.

‘‘ What is that pole for?” said Lucy, again.

« This is my fishing-pole,” said the boy.

“Did you come a-fishing ?” said Lucy.

“Yes,” replied the boy; “and we caught
four.”

Just at this moment, Lucy heard Comfort call-
ing out that she had found a slab. Lucy looked
in the direction from which the voice came, and
she saw Comfort beyond a rocky Point, a short
distance up the stream.

*T’ve found a slab,” said Comfort; “ but it is
too heavy for me to bring along, and so I’m going
to sail it down.”

Lucy could see that Comfort was stooping
down, as if she was pushing something off the
shore. At the same instant, she heard other
voices in the opposite direction. She looked
down the stream, and saw two boys coming up
along the bank, half hid by the bushes and rocks,
with fishing-poles in their hands. They were
talking, together, and did not see Lucy until they
got out of the bushes, and had advanced pretty
near to her. At the same time, Comfort came