canes for our live stock, and on this we spread clay and moss, and then
a thick coat of tar, so that it was rain proof from end to end. This
was held up by thick canes stuck deep in the ground, with planks made
fast to them to form the walls, and round the whole we put a row of
cask staves to serve for rails. In this way we soon had a barn, store
room, and hay loft, with stalls for the cow, the ass, and what else we
kept that had need of a place to live in.


CHAPTER X.

FRANK one day found some long leaves, to which, from their shape, he
gave the name of sword leaves. These he brought home to play with, and
then, when he grew tired of them, threw them down. As they lay on the
floor, Fritz took some of them in his hand, and found them so limp,
that he said he could plait them, and make a whip for Frank to drive
the sheep and goats with. As he split them up to do this, I could not
but note their strength. This led me to try them, and I found that we
had now a kind of flax plant, which was a source of great joy to my
wife.

"You have not yet found a thing," she said, "that will be of more use
to us than this. Go at once and search for some more of these leaves,
and bring me the most you can of them. With these I can make you hose,
shirts, clothes, thread, rope; in short, give me flax, and make me a
loom and some frames, and I shall be at no loss for work when the rain
comes."

I could not help a smile at my wife's joy when she heard the name of
flax; for there was still much to do ere the leaves could take the