his brown hand. "Go on, Joel," as they sat down again on the
doorstep.

"Well, he looked at me, and I looked at him," said Joel, "and
then I said 'Squish!' and he bobbed down his head, just a minute,
and I jumped and I grabbed him by the neck, and that's all,
Polly." And Joel gave a long stretch.

But Polly had her arms around his neck. "Oh, you brave, brave
Joel," she cried. "Mamsie'll be so proud of you! Think what
she'll say when she comes home!"




II

WHAT DAVE HEARD


"Dave," said Joel, in a whisper. It was the middle of the night,
and the loft was very still, save for Ben's breathing over in
his bed in the corner.

"Don't say a word!" Joel laid his mouth close to the ear on the
straw pillow; "if you do, I'll nip you and snip you."

"Ow!" said little Davie, huddling down under the scanty blanket
and dragging it over his head.