"And we must tell Polly," cried little Davie, in a smothered
voice. "Oh, Joel, we _must_ tell Polly."

"_Sh!_" cried Joel, with a warning pinch on the small arm
that sent David into a worse heap than before. "Now, you've gone
and waked Ben up again," and he pricked up one ear from under the
bedclothes.

"Oh!" exclaimed little David, thinking of Mamsie and Polly whom
he was not to tell.

Joel drew a long breath, as Ben did not stir.

"Well, say 'black and blue--hope to die if I do,'" commanded
Joel, sliding back again under the blanket. "Hurry up, Dave."

"'Black and--blue--hope--to die if I do,'" mumbled poor little
David, stuffing the end of the blanket into his mouth, trying
not to cry as he thought of Mamsie and Polly.

"Now, you know I've found a cave, and I'm goin' up there to live
some day," announced Joel in a smothered whisper, his mouth
close to David's ear.

"Where?" cried David, fearfully.

"_Sh!_ don't speak so loud. Over in 'Bandy Leg Mountain.'"

"Ooh,--dear me!" cried David, stopping himself in the middle of