h again, "What a game!"

"Booh," said Harry; "was it? You wouldn't like to go and try again."

"I wouldn't mind," said Philip; "I shouldn't run faster than you did."

"Ah! never mind," said Harry; "you run fast enough this time. I only
wish," he continued sulkily, "that I had let you go."

Now, Philip was generally most terribly teased by his brother, and
therefore it was not surprising that he, who was generally such a mild
and inoffensive lad, should take this opportunity of making a little
retaliation. But one thing was very certain, and that was, that he
would have backed out of the task even if Harry had given it up to him.

"Can't we fetch the bellows?" said Harry. "Let's go and see."

Off they went again, but at a slower pace this time, in case there
should be any of the fierce little insects waiting for them. But their
caution was needless, for the wasps were busy at work trying to stick
their stings into the bellows, and some of them losing their lives
through the vapour that came reeking out of the opening. But when the
lads got near enough to see what a cloud there was buzzing about, they
gave up all idea of getting the bellows till night, and took vengeance
for their defeat by getting a little farther off and pelting the tree,
but only hitting it about once in twenty times, so that they very soon
tired of that pastime, and went back to see what poor old Sam could find
for them fresh.

"Now, then," said Sam, when they came up, "where's the wopses' nest?
The Squire wants some grabs for fishing."

"Ain't got it," said Harry, shortly.

"How's that?" said the old man; "you weren't afeard, was you?"

"No," said Harry, stoutly; "I wasn't afraid, only they came buzzing out
so we were obliged to give in."

Chuckle, chuckle, went the old man at their defeat; but he would not go
himself to fetch the bellows, although he laughed at the boys' expense.

"You'd better leave off laughing," said Philip, taking Harry's part, "or
we'll stop here all the morning."

Sam grew serious in a moment, for the boy couldn't have uttered a more
dire threat against his peace of mind.

"Ah! I ain't laughing, Master Phil, only it is good fun to see the
wopses make any one run. If I was you, I should go and have a look at
Bramble Dyke; they say as the water's nearly all dried up, and you can
get fish out of it."

"It's too far," said Philip, "because we are going out with Papa
directly after dinner."

Sam was done