Page:Anna Chapin--Half a dozen boys.djvu/200

178 divide it up by the size it is broken into, and call it pea-coal and nut-coal, and so on. I guess that’s all I know, Miss Bess.”

“Very good, Phil. Bert, can you tell us something more?”

“Not very much. Phil’s told a good share of what I had found out. I think I know where some of the best coal-beds are, though.”

Sam and Ted between them added a description of coal mining; Fred gave, as his share, a vivid account of the primeval forests, and the  way the coal-beds were formed; while Rob contributed a few words about the fossils met with  in the coal. Bess made a running commentary on the whole, and ended with a short account  of the more common kindred substances:  petroleum, illuminating gas, and the diamond. Then she looked at her watch.

“Half-past eight. Only half an hour for our games, boys.”

“Is it really so late?” asked Ted incredulously. “This has been immense. What are we going to take next?”

“Well, Sam, that is for you to say.” And Bess turned to the boy who was lounging in