Cricket At the Seashore

under the drifting sand, but the startled children never doubted that it was growing fast on the top of " Mr. Satam's" head, and they waited in terrified silence for that head to rise and confront them. Meanwhile, Billy was wandering around in great anguish of soul, not knowing what dreadful thing might happen any moment He startedback to the house at last. Cricket came skipping down the piazza steps. " See here, young un," Billy began, eagerly, ? he seldom called the children by their names. " I 'm afraid suthin' dretful's goin' to happen." What's the matter, Billy ? Why, how your hands shake!" " Perhaps you can stop 'em," went on Billy, hurriedly; " them ere little tikes is a-doin' a dretful thing. They 're over by the sand-bank, a-diggin' fur ? hell." He brought out this last word in a deep, half-frightened whisper. " Digging for what? Oh, Billy! " and Cricket's laugh rang out. " You know better than that. Where are they? I'm going to dig a little m... --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.