in galloping
along the road, racing with a wagon.

At length the party reached a place where there was a pair of bars by
the roadside, and a way leading in, to a sort of pasture. Phonny knew
that this was where Beechnut was going, and so he turned in. The road
was rough, and Malleville had to hold on very carefully to the side of
the cart as they went along. Presently the road went into a wood, and
after going on some way in this wood, Beechnut directed Phonny to
stop, and they all got out.

"Now, Phonny," said Beechnut, "you can have your choice either to work
or play."

"What do you think that I had better do?" said Phonny.

"Play, I rather think," said Beechnut.

"I thought you would say work," said Phonny.

"You had better play, in order to keep Malleville company," said
Beechnut.

"Well," said Phonny, "I will."

So while Beechnut went to work to get a new load of wood, Phonny and
Malleville went away to play.

There was a precipice of rocks near the place where Beechnut was
loading his cart, with a great many large rocks at the foot of it. The
top of the precipice was crowned with trees, and there were also a
great many bushes and trees growing among the rocks below. It was a
very wild and romantic place, and Phonny and Malleville liked to play
there very much indeed.

After a time Phonny called out to Beechnut to inquire whether he had
any matches in his pocket. He said that he and Malleville were going
to build a fire.

"Yes," said Beechnut, "I have. Come here and I will give you some."

So Phonny sent Malleville after the matches, while he collected dry
wood for a fire. When Malleville returned, she gave Phonny the
matches, and told him that Beechnut said that they must make the fire
on the _rocks_ somewhere, or in some other safe place, so that it
should not spread into the woods.

"Well," said Phonny, "I will look about and find a good place."

Accordingly, he began to walk along at the foot of the precipice,
examining every recess among the rocks, and all the nooks and corners
which seemed to promise well, as places of encampment. Malleville
could not quite keep up with him on account of the roughnesses and
inequalities of the way.

At last Malleville, who had fallen a little behind, heard Phonny
calling to her in tones of great delight. She hastened on. In a
moment she saw Phonny before her just coming out from among the bushes
and calling to her,

"Malleville! Malleville! come here q