The Boy and the Lynx 
Corney had had every other a “ well day,” 
but with these three there were no “well days” 
and the house became an abode of misery. 
Seven days passed, and now Margat could 
not leave her bed and Loo was barely able to 
walk around the house. She was a brave girl 
with a fund of drollery which did much toward 
keeping up all their spirits, but her merriest 
jokes fell ghastly from her wan, pinched face. 
Thor, though weak and ill, was the strongest 
and did for the others, cooking and serving 
each day a simple meal, for they could eat 
very little, fortunately, perhaps, as there was 
very little, and Corney could not return for an- 
other week. 
Soon Thor was the only one able to rise, and 
one morning when he dragged himself to cut 
the little usual slice of their treasured bacon he 
found, to his horror, that the whole piece was 
gone. It had been stolen, doubtless by some 
wild animal, from the little box on the shady 
side of the house, where it was kept safe from 
flies. Now they were down to flour and tea. 
He was in despair, when his eye lighted on the 
Chickens about the stable; but what ’s the use? 
192 
