WORK AND PLAY Henry and Ross were gone to the mainland, and Paul, Shif'less Sol, and Jim Hart were left on the island.

Shif'less Sol stood at the edge of the hollow, hands on hips, admiring the hut.
"Paul," he said, "I think that thar house is jest about the finest I ever built." "You built!" exclaimed Jim Hart indignantly.

"Mighty little you had to do with it, Sol Hyde, but eat in it an' sleep in it, which two things you are willin' enough to do any time! It's me an' Paul who have reared that gran' structure." "It appeals to my instincts as an eddicated man," went on Sol, calmly disregarding Jim.

"We've got up the house without sp'ilin' the surroundin's.

It jest blends with rock an' bush, an' we've helped natur' without tryin' to improve it." "I believe you've got the truth of it, Sol," said Paul.