THE BOILING POT 5217 



train starts, and they are off. After a moment, 

 when full speed had been gained: " Uncle Paul," 

 said Emile, "see how the trees run, dance, and whirl 

 around!" His uncle made him a sign to be silent. 

 He had two reasons for this: first, Emile had just 

 made a foolish remark, and, secondly, his uncle did 

 not choose to notice the giddy-pate's self -betrayal in 

 public. 



Besides, Uncle Paul is not very communicative 

 whf n traveling; he prefers to maintain a discreet 

 reserve and keep silence. There are people whom 

 you have never seen before, and perhaps will never 

 see again, who immediately become very familiar 

 with their traveling companions. Bather than hold 

 their tongues they would talk to themselves. Uncle 

 Paul does not like such people; he considers them 

 weak-minded. 



By evening the three travelers had returned, all 

 much pleased with their trip. Uncle Paul had 

 brought to a favorable conclusion his business in 

 town. Emile and Jules each came back with an 

 idea. When they had done honor to the excellent 

 supper Mother Ambroisine had prepared on pur- 

 pose to wind up the holiday with a little treat, Jules 

 was the first to impart his idea to his uncle. 



"Of all that I saw to-day," he began, "what struck 

 me most was the engine at the head of the train, the 

 locomotive that draws the long string of cars. How 

 do they make it move I I looked well, but could not 

 find out. It looks as if it went by itself, like a great 

 beast on the gallop." 



"It does not K" l-y itself,' 1 n-pliedhis uncl- : "it is 



