f feature in its construction
and forms the centre and mouthpiece. Two pipes of cane are cut to form
reeds and inserted into the large end of the gourd; one, pierced with
finger-holes, takes the melody; it is accompanied by the other, which
always sounds the key-note, and produces a curious droning sound not
unlike that of the bagpipes.

HELENA HEATH.

A HUMOROUS PUNISHMENT.

In Stow's _History of London_, the following singular extract is
given:--

'Nicholas Wilford, an alderman, having neglected to have his cloak,
which he ought to use in the procession, lined with fur, it is adjudged
by the Court of Aldermen that the Lord Mayor and Aldermen shall all
breakfast with him. This penalty is awarded as a punishment for his
meanness.'

THE MOON-SHIP.

O ship of the moon, good-bye, good-bye!
Where, where do you sail away,
Through miles and miles of stormy sky,
By cloudland cape and bay?
O ship of the moon, beware, beware,
Of many and many a danger there!

See! white foam breaks along the reef!
The angry tempests blow;
The cloud-waves beat the cloudland cliff
Like gusts of drifting snow.
O ship of the moon, beware, beware,
There's many a danger lurking there!

She's near the rocks! She's sinking now!
The light is growing dim.
Wild billows leap her silver prow
On the horizon's rim.
And louder still the tempest blows;
The shadows darker fall;
Into the cloud-world depths she goes--
Mast, rudder, sails and all,
Wrecked in the ocean of the sky:
Ship of the moon, good-bye! good-bye!

THE GIANT OF THE TREASURE CAVES.

(_Continued from page 63._)

As soon as Georgie was disposed of, the other children set off racing
each other about, up and down the old disused part of the house, the
empty passages echoing to the sound of their fun and laughter.

'Alan,' said Marjorie, when, breathless and somewhat tired, the three
explorers had reached a small turret room into which was shining a ray
of sunshine from a rift in the clouds--'I wonder if you would laugh if I
told you something.'

Estelle had climbed on a chair and was leaning out of the narrow window,
with a longing for the fresh, sweet air outside; Alan was tapping all
the panelling to see if any discoveries were lying in wait for him.

'Why should I laugh?' he returned, in a preoccupied voice.

'Please don't, then. I really and truly saw some men creeping round the
tower!