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stmmers niehtm all s splendowr. 2\ cool wind bicw, From the mternor ol the hut.

whenee could be heard the deep hreathimg of the sleepers, miyvriads of stars sparkled through the disjomted planks and crannies of the rootf, I1.

T dawn was already heginning to whiten the horizon, when George awoke from his deep sleeps He watched the workmen quit thenr meagre couches; rise and pass oul, furnishing themselves as they did so with all sorts of tools which were hanging on the witlls of the cabim. e followed then ex- ample, and after putting on his coat, stood hesttating in what direction to proceed scarch ol his work, when Tertsehka came up to him, carryig on her shoulder a0 long handled hammer.

“The overseer s sull asleep,” she sad,

“hHhut I know what you have to doo Take this hammer and come with me.” e obeyed hory and they went out tozether.

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CCTHEY OWENT 0Ll

Outsicde, all was cool and peacetul. Only now and then a bird twittered v the bushes. T'he grass was heavy with clear dew.

They walked silently along. After some distance they came upon a stone quarry,

A 0G TN whoere several ol the men were at work, whilst the rest were husy upon the Tiney with wheelbharrows and spades. Tertsehka, 1ol lowed by George, passed these groups and patsed at a heap of stones.

“This isomy place,” she sad, seatimg her sellon the miuddle of o pile ol stones. 1 never care Lo remaan near the men. "They are coarse and wicked 5 but f you Tike, you can work here.”

He made no reply, hut sat down at her st

csees these creat fragments of rock st bhe Droken imto tiny preces. There,” she added, pomting to a great heap ol finc cravel s iy last week's work”

[Te took o prece of Tnnestone, and struck iwith his haoomer, but the stone remamed unbroken.

Costrke harder,” oned Tertsebkas This Lme she struek Tt e her turn, and the rock lew mto fragments. Heoowatehed her o aazementand alter making a sccond attempt wis rewarded with Then, without

saying o word, both devoted hemselves to thenr task. A around theny lay stretehed a wild but charmimg scene o hill and valleye But the work S peaple did ot pause i then labhowr to admre heauties, With stoopmg shoulders they struck and s hroke thenr stones, whilst the sun, now niountimg m the heavens, beat down with scorching heat upon thenr un- shoeltered heads, "The strokes of Creorge’s hammer hecame lanter and famter, and at last the tool fell from s hand. Fle began to fan himsell with s cap, and to dry the moisture which | streamued down his Tertsehka stopped also. “Are vou ured already? 7o she asked, surveying him compassionately.,

AR Heaven only knows how tired,” he rephied, macdreary voices It s only now that T begin to feel how low the fever has brought me.”

“llechle and 1l as you are, how could you acceept work so harvd and rude as ours 27

“What clse remaimed for me to do?

SO SS,

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beg? Notthat, at any rate. T had learnt no trade. In my nincteenth year T was placed

i the army. Now I am ill, they send me