"How can you expect it to bear your weight ?" "Pack of fools!" retorted Jane indignantly.

"The noise only shows how strong it is." The shock which the report had given Smilash answered him his question.
"Make a note that wishes for the destruction of the human race, however rational and sincere, are contrary to nature," he said, recovering his spirits.

"Besides, what a precious fool I should be if I were working at an international association of creatures only fit for destruction! Hi, lady! One word, Miss!" This was to Miss Ward, who had skated into his neighborhood.

"It bein' a cold morning, and me havin' a poor and common circulation, would it be looked on as a liberty if I was to cut a slide here or take a turn in the corner all to myself ?" "You may skate over there if you wish," she said, after a pause for consideration, pointing to a deserted spot at the leeward end of the pond, where the ice was too rough for comfortable skating.
"Nobly spoke!" he cried, with a grin, hurrying to the place indicated, where, skating being out of the question, he made a pair of slides, and gravely exercised himself upon them until his face glowed and his fingers tingled in the frosty air.

The time passed quickly; when Miss Ward sent for him to take off her skates there was a general groan and declaration that it could not possibly be half-past eight o'clock yet.
Smilash knelt before the camp-stool, and was presently busy unbuckling and unscrewing.