"What a stupe!" said Will Fisher. "So do we; that's the reason we're after this one."

"Hope you'll never take a notion to like me, then," said Charley.

"Bother!" said Dick Rotch, "don't waste time on him. Come, Louis."

"I wouldn't go, Louis," said Charley.

"Wouldn't you?" said Louis, stopping short.

"Yes you would," said Dick, clapping him on the shoulder. "Come along, he's only a sneak. I told Tom Jones to wait by the bar-place. Hush!" And Dick began to lead the way through the thickest part of the orchard, in profound silence: winding along among the old apple-trees, and keeping carefully out of sight of the house. Next came the meadow; and there Dick crept along by the hedge, the other boys following, till at the furthest end he opened a huge gate, and they were all in the barn-yard. Everything was very still here, for cattle and horses were in the field, and chickens were sleepy or on their nests. The great hay waggon stood empty, and round this Dick passed, and opened softly the great bar-door.

Now, boys, hush!" he repeated.

"But how are you going to smoke him out?" whispered Louis. "You'll set the barn a fire!"

"Don't be a fool!" said Dick roughly. "Up here, boys!" and up into the hay-mow they clambered.

"I don't see what ever made a rabbit come in here!" said Louis, brushing the hay seeds off his jacket.

"Don't you?" said Dick, with a sneer. "Well, keep your eyes open. Now, boys-spread!" and in a minute they were all flat on the hay-mow, and covered up with hay.

"I think we'll get smoked out," said Tom Jones, "if there's such a thing as spontaneous combustion. Whew!" "Be quiet, can't you?" said Will Fisher. "Dick, how long do you suppose he'll be?"

"Well, where is he, to begin with?" said Louis. "Where is what?"

"The rabbit," said Louis.

There was a smothered explosion of laughter from the other boys, that shook the hay like a young earthquake.

"I vow!" said Dick Rotch, "that boy'll be the death of me some day! Louis, if you start my risibles again, I'll choke you, out of hand,—see if I don't."

"I don't see what I've done," said Louis. "And you might be civil enough to answer my question."

"O your high mightiness!" said Dick; “I crave your pardon sixteen hundred and fifty times precisely. Where is he-well, that beloved doctor of ours requested him to take a message down to the farmer's house, and that's half way to the village. So his rabbitship is behind time.”

"You don't mean Austin?" said Louis with a changed tone. "What are you going to do, Dick?”

A tremendous pinch on his arm made Louis at once silent and wrathful, for at this moment the barn-door creaked slowly on its hinges, and Austin came in. He looked flushed and heated, but with a happy gladness on his face that was easily read. He had got away now! and nobody could disturb him; and softly pulling to the door, he came forward, book in hand, opened the little barn window for light and air, and throwing himself down in a sort of nest in the side of the hay-mow, leaned back his head and was content. The summer breeze, rousing itself now, stirred gently through the open window, and brought the scent of flowers and grain ; the swallows twittered and darted about their mud nests, far up overhead on the rafters; the bells ringing for afternoon church away down in the village, sounded sweet and clear and peaceful.

"I'd like to be there," thought Austin; "but it's good here too ;" and he opened his book and began to read. The boys from their hiding-place in the hay watched him breathlessly; and Louis Harbury wondered to himself what made his own heart beat so, and wished that it wouldn't.

"How nice and cool Charley is, down in the orchard!” he thought.

Presently Austin laid his book aside, and kneeling down here by the hay-mow, he covered his face with his hands

and was very still for a long time. They could just hear his voice now and then, in a sort of whispered tone, but could not distinguish a word. The boys could see him quite plainly. And, somehow, even Dick Rotch and Will Fisher felt uncomfortable, and had thoughts of the cool orchard where Charley was they did not know how to begin their "fun," as they called it. Very poor fun it was, Louis thought, but he was not brave enough to stand up for the right.

"It's dreadfully still!" he said to himself. "I wish somebody'd speak, or do something!"

At last Austin rose up, and took his old seat in the hay; and then he opened another little book and began to sing. Not very loud, but softly, and half to himself as if he was afraid of being heard. Yet everything else was so still, and he sang the words so earnestly, that the other boys heard them, every one.

"What are these in bright array,

This innumerable throng,
Round the altar night and day
Hymning one triumphant song:
Worthy is the Lamb once slain,
Blessing, honour, glory, power,
Wisdom, riches to obtain,

New dominion every hour."

Austin began clearly enough, but as the lines went on his voice changed and faltered, as if the thought of that great white-robed company, or of some that were in it, was too much for him; and with the end of the first verse his head sunk on his hands. Then he raised it, and began again :—

"Jesus, my all, to heaven is gone :
He whom I fix my hopes upon :
His track I see, and I'll pursue
The narrow way, till Him I view.

Happy day, happy day,

When Jesus wash'd my sins away;

He taught me how to watch and pray,
And live rejoicing every day.

Happy day! happy day!

When Jesus wash'd my sins away."

This hymn went better; and in glad comfort of heart, Austin sang on through its many verses: none too many for

"So now at last, after a few very hushed whispers and signs to each other, they all at once started up from their hiding-place on the top of the mow, and bursting out into a loud, mocking laugh, they looked down upon Austin."-P. 452.