the ground, and carrying it
carefully in his mouth, deposited it at the feet of the little girls,
seating himself before them with an air of deep interest. Bab and Betty
picked it up and read it aloud in unison, while Ben leaned from his
perch to listen and learn.

"'When day dawned land was visible. A pleasant land it was. There were
gay flowers, and tall trees with leaves and fruit such as they had never
seen before. On the shore were unclad, copper-colored men, gazing with
wonder at the Spanish ships. They took them for great birds, the white
sails for their wings, and the Spaniards for superior beings brought
down from heaven on their backs.'"

"Why, that's Columbus finding San Salvador. Don't you know about _him_?"
demanded Bab, as if she were one of the "superior beings," and
intimately acquainted with the immortal Christopher.

"No, I don't. Who was he anyway? I s'pose that's him paddlin' ahead; but
which of the Injuns is Sam Salvindoor?" asked Ben, rather ashamed of his
ignorance, but bent on finding out now he had begun.

"My gracious! twelve years old and not know your Quackenbos," laughed
Bab, much amused, but rather glad to find that she could teach the
"whirligig boy" something, for she considered him a remarkable creature.

"I don't care a bit for your quackin' boss, whoever he is. Tell about
this fine feller with the ships; I like _him_," persisted Ben.

So Bab, with frequent interruptions and hints from Betty, told the
wonderful tale in a simple way, which made it easy to understand, for
she liked history, and had a lively tongue of her own.

"I'd like to read some more. Would my ten cents buy a book?" asked Ben,
anxious to learn a little since Bab laughed at him.

"No, indeed! I'll lend you mine when I'm not using it, and tell you all
about it," promised Bab, forgetting that she did not know "all about it"
herself yet.

"I don't have any time only evenings, and then may be you'll want it,"
begun Ben, in whom the inky page had roused a strong curiosity.

"I do get my history in the evening, but you could have it mornings,
before school."

"I shall have to go off early, so there wont be any chance. Yes, there
will,--I'll tell you how to do it: Let me read while I drive up the
cows. Squire likes 'em to eat slow along the road, so's to keep the
grass short and save mowin'. Pat said so, and I could do history instead
of loafin' round!" cried Ben, full of this bright idea.

"How will I get my bo