120 LUCY AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.

alittle slate from under the counter, and began
making figures upon it. Lucy saw that Comfort
looked perplexed, and was very busy; so she
left her, and ran out into the yard again, to watch
the slab. ,

Lucy thought that the slab had not moved at
all, while she had been gone. It seemed to be
in exactly the place where it was before. In fact,
it did not move very fast, because the water in
the mill-pond was almost still. It was, however,
slowly descending towards the dam.

* Why don’t it come faster?” said Lucy.

« Why, the water does not run very fast in the
mill-pond,” replied the girl; we can sail all over
it ina boat; so that the logs and slabs come down
slowly.”

“Where will it go to?” asked Lucy.

“¢Q, it will come down over the dam; or else
it will run into the flume, and get stopped by the
grating.”

“J mean to watch it,” said Lucy, “and see.”

“Then you had better go and stand on the
bridge,” replied the girl. “ You can see it better
on the bridge.” ,

“T don’t think Comfort would let me,” said
Lucy.

“You had better go and ask her,” said.the girl.