this world. Polly won't let you."

"Polly'll let us go an' play some to-morrow," said Joel,
sturdily, "'cause there ain't any work to do. So there now! An'
maybe I'll see a bear. An'----"

"O dear me!" exclaimed little Davie, quite overcome, and trembling
in every limb. "He'll eat you. Joel, I'm going to tell Polly."

"You can't," said Joel, coolly; "you said 'Black-an-blue-hope-
to-die-if-I-do,' and I'm goin' to take you."

"Oh, I can't go," declared Davie, bouncing up in terror. "I
ain't goin'. I ain't, Joey. I ain't----"

"_Sh-sh_!" warned Joel, with another nip.

"I ain't--I ain't--" cried David, softly, through his tears.

"Pshaw! I guess there ain't any bear up there," said Joel,
scornfully. "Be still, Dave!"

"An' old--old Bandy Legs'll catch--catch me," mumbled David,
digging his small knuckles into his eyes.

"Old Bandy Legs has been dead ever'n ever so long. I guess a
thousand years," said Joel; "an' there's flowers there--oh, most
beautiful ones!"

"Are there?" asked David, taking down his hands. "What kinds,