26 Bosh-Bosh Oil.

Of course, his slippery, buttered head was a great,
great help to him, but it was in any case a most
marvellous thing for a boy to have done, was
it not? He lay there for five minutes, without
moving, for he felt, naturally, quite weak. Then,
remembering the poor old man, he slowly
picked himself up, and went on, first turning to
see what had become of the duck, whose dead
body he expected to see. But no duck, either
dead or alive, was there. He was, however, be-
yond being astonished at anything now.

“I don't at all like the feeling of this butter on
my head,” he said, as he continued his journey,
“and I wish I could find some water, so that I
could wash it off.”

His wish was gratified, for there, right before
him, was a well. And not only a well, but a
bucket, too. This Gardner filled, and succeeded in
washing most of the butter from his head. Then
he saw that to continue on his road, he must either
go round the well, or step over it. To go round
was impossible, as the ground on either side was
too steep. To step over was equally impossible,