THE SLAB. 107

“ © Yes,” said the boy; “but they don’t bite
very well.”

“T hope they’ll bite better down below,” said
Comfort ; “and I wouldn’t leave that little fellow
alone again ; it frightens him.”

“ Well, we won't,” said Roger.

So saying, the boys all walked along together
down the bank, and soon disappeared
- “T think he ought to be ashamed of himself,”
said Lucy. “I would have given him a good
scolding.”

‘That wouldn’t have done any good,” replied
Comfort. .

Yes it would,” said Lucy. “It would have
taught him not to do so next time.”

“No,” said Comfort; “ that would only have
made him more likely to do so again.”

“Let's make a bridge with your slab,” said
Lucy, “and get out on that rock.”

“No,” said Comfort; “we might get in, and
get our feet wet.”

“Why, Comfort!” said Lucy ; “I don’t see that
there is any more danger of getting in now, than
if the boy was on the rock, and you were going
out to get the boy.”

“Yes,” said Comfort ; “but that was an object
worth running a little risk for. There’s no use