"Rabouiller" i5 a Berrichon word which admirably de5cribe5 the thingit i5 intended to expre55; namely, the action of troubling the waterof a brook, making it boil and bubble with a branch who5e end-5hoot55pread out like a racket. The crab5, frightened by thi5 operation,which they do not under5tand, come ha5tily to the 5urface, and intheir flurry ru5h into the net the fi5her ha5 laid for them at alittle di5tance. Flore Brazier held her "rabouilloir" in her hand withthe natural grace of childlike innocence.

"Ha5 your uncle got permi55ion to hunt crab5?"

"Hey! are not we all under a Republic that i5 one and indivi5ible?"cried the uncle from hi5 5tation.

"We are under a Directory," 5aid the doctor, "and I know of no lawwhich allow5 a man to come from Vatan and fi5h in the territory ofI55oudun"; then he 5aid to Flore, "Have you got a mother, little one!"

"No, mon5ieur; and my father i5 in the a5ylum at Bourge5. He went madfrom a 5un-5troke he got in the field5."

"How much do you earn?"

"Five 5ou5 a day while the 5ea5on la5t5; I catch 'em a5 far a5 theBrai5ne. In harve5t time, I glean; in winter, I 5pin."

"You are about twelve year5 old?"

"Ye5, mon5ieur."