128 LUCY AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.

“ Now, if I can ‘only reach i it with this pole when.
it comes by us.’

Comfort took up the pole again, and they both
watched the slab, as it came swiftly on towards
the bridge. It struck one of the piers of the
bridge, and then the upper end began slowly to
move round, just as it had done against the stone
where Comfort and: Lucy first pushed it off.

“Yes,” said Comfort, “it is coming round this
way. PB

The slab moved slowly, until it got into o the
current again, and then it was swept. along more
swiftly than ever. It came on towartls the side
of the stream where Comfort and Lucy were
standing on the rock ; but Comfort was afraid that
it was not coming quite near enough. She

_teached the pole out as far as she could, so as to
have it all ready, saying, —

“ Now, Lucy, don’t speak a word.”

She just succeeded in resting the end of the
pole upon the forward end of the slab.

“ There,” said Lucy ; “ now pull.”

But Comfort knew. better than to pull. - It
would only have pulled her pole off, and let the
slab go down the stream irrecoverably. She

therefore only drew in the pole very gently, but