He did not wish to give in so long as he saw Fritz plodding on laboriously, especially as he had made light of the matter when they began; but now he really had to confess to being beaten.

"I declare," he panted out, half-breathlessly--"my back feels broken, and I couldn't dig another spadeful to save my life!" "You went at it too hard at first," said his brother.

"Slow and sure is the best in the long run, you know! Why, I haven't tired myself half as much as you; and, see, I have turned over twice the distance of hard ground that you have." "Ah, you are used to it," replied Eric.

"I'm more accustomed to ploughing the sea than turning up land! But, I say, Fritz; while you go on digging--that is if you're not tired--I've just thought of something else I can do, so as not to be idle." "What is that--look on at me working, eh ?" "No," said the lad, laughing at the other's somewhat ironical question; "I mean doing something really--something that will be helping you and be of service to the garden." "Well, tell me," replied Fritz, industriously going on using his spade with the most praiseworthy assiduity, not pausing for a moment even while he was speaking; for, he was anxious to have the ground finished as soon as he could.
"I thought that some of the guano from the place where the penguins make their nests would be fine stuff to manure our garden with before we put in the seeds, eh ?" "The very thing," said Fritz.

"It's a capital idea of yours; and I am glad you thought of it, as it never occurred to me.