d Bigley, rising up and straightening himself. "I
heaved up till something went crack, and I don't know whether it's
buttons, or stitches, or braces. Braces," he added, after feeling
himself about. "Oh! Here's a bother, it's torn the buckle right off!"

"Never mind the buckle, lad. Let's send this stone over. I want to see
it go; don't you, Sep?"

"Of course I do," I said. "Now, then, all together once more. Shove
the bar in here, Bob."

"Oh, it's of no use to shove it there," he replied. "No; here's the
place. Ah! Now we've got it."

"Shall I come there and help with the bar?" cried Bigley.

"No, you sha'n't come there and help with the bar," sneered Bob. "There
ain't hardly room for us two to work, and you'd want a great bar half a
mile long all to yourself. Only wish I was as strong as you, an' I'd
just pop that stone over in half a minute."

"Would you?" said Big, staring at him sadly. "I can't."

"No, because you don't half try."

"Oh, don't I? Now you both heave again, and this time we'll do it."

"All right," cried Bob excitedly. "Now, then, all together, heave ho,
my lads, heave ho! And this does it. One--two--three--and--"

"Oh, look at that!" cried Bigley, straightening himself again. "There
now, did you ever see such a chap?" cried Bob, stamping with rage; "just
as she was going over, and it only wanted about half a pound to do it,
he leaves off."

"Well, how would you like your other brace buckle to get torn up by the
roots?" said Bigley reproachfully.

"Brace buckles! Why, your brace buckles are always coming off," said
Bob. "I wouldn't be such a great lumbering chap as you are for all
Devonshire and part o' Wales."

"I can't help it," said Bigley sadly, as he tried to repair damages, and
failing that, secured his clothing by tying his braces tightly round his
waist. "I didn't want to grow so big all at once. Everybody laughs at
me for it."

"Nobody minds your being big," cried Bob, "if you would only be useful.
Your braces are always breaking."

"I'm very sorry, Bob, old chap."

"What's the good of being sorry now?" replied Bob. "You've spoiled all
the fun. It's no use stopping if you chaps won't help."

"Why, we did help, Bob," I said, "and the stone didn't move a bit. It's
too heavy."

"It did move, I tell you. If you want to quarrel you'd better say so,
and I'll be off home. I don't want to fight."

"More do I, Bob," I replied; "but it didn't really mo