58 



" Never mind ! " cried the little thief, as it 

 peered out from the stolen house. " You needn't 

 bother about finding a shell. Something will come 

 along and eat you up in a minute. You'll be a 

 dainty morsel." 



The houseless crab looked wildly about him. 

 Where could he find a shelter ? Where hide him- 

 self ? 



Close by he saw an old clay pipe that had been 

 washed up by the ocean. The stem was broken 

 and it was ugly and heavy, but still it might shelter 

 him from danger. 



Suddenly a shadow passed across the pool. 

 Quick as a flash the crab was in the pipe with 

 his soft tail curled up behind him and only his claws 

 showing. 



How the smaller crab in the stolen shell twiddled 

 his feelers and jeered at him ! "Well, I'm going," 

 he cried, " I find this a very good shell, thank you. 

 Very much better than what I had." 



He put out his legs to walk. Then suddenly he 

 curled them up again, drawing as far back into his 

 house as he could. There was a heavy rumbling 

 on the beach that came nearer and nearer. They 

 could hear it down in the salt pool. 



