boys, we're after you, we'll soon have you out!" said the men
cheerily; though how could they tell whether the boys heard or not?
Indeed, how did they know the boys were still alive?

Two men went for shovels. The other men, not waiting for them to come
back thrust their arms into the bank and scooped out the sand with
their hands. The sand was loose and they worked very fast. Before the
shovels arrived a moan was heard. At any rate one of the boys was alive.
And before long they had unearthed both the young prisoners and dragged
them out of the cave.

Not a minute too soon, Joe gasped for breath and looked wildly about;
but Nate lay perfectly still; it could hardly be seen at first that he
breathed. His father and mother, the doctor and plenty of other people
were ready and eager to help; but it was some time before he showed
signs of life. When at last he opened his eyes the joy of his parents
was something touching to witness.

Jimmy, who had been standing about with the other children, watching and
waiting, caught his mother by the sleeve and whispered:--

"I should have been in there too, mamma, if it hadn't been for you!"

"What do you mean, my son? In that cave? I never knew the boys were
trying to make a cave. I did not forbid your digging in the sand, did
I?"

"No, mamma; but I knew you wouldn't want me to do it in these
clothes--after all my actions! And I had promised to be more careful."

Mrs. Dunlee smiled, but there were tears in her eyes.

"How glad I am that my little boy respected his mother's wishes," said
she, stooping to kiss his earnest face.

She dared not think what might have happened if he had disregarded her
wishes!

It was a time of rejoicing. Mr. Templeton ordered out the brass band
and the Hindoo tam tam. The horse Thistleblow seemed to think he must be
wanted too, and came and danced in circles before the groups of happy
people.

"I could believe I was in some foreign country," said Mrs. McQuilken,
smiling under her East Indian puggaree, as she had not been seen to
smile before, and dropping a kiss on the cheek of her favorite Edith.

After dinner the Dunlees met in Aunt Vi's room, and Aunt Vi observed
that Mrs. Dunlee kept Jimmy close by her side, looking at him in the way
mothers look at good little sons, her eyes shining with happy love and
pride.

They were talking over "Jimmy's play," which had not been played. The
money must all be given back to the people who had sat