"But, father," said he, "the houses would not go off, certainly;—only the loose things would go."
"Very well; houses are loose."
"O father! they are fastened down."
"How are they fastened down?" asked his father.
"O, they are nailed—and,"
"Not nailed to the ground, certainly," said his father.
"No," said Rollo, laughing; "but then they are built with great stones and mortar."
"Yes, but there is no mortar under the lowest stones. The foundations are simply laid upon the ground."
"Well," rejoined Rollo, "I thought they were fastened somehow or other."
"No," said his father; "they dig the cellar, and only just lay the foundations upon the ground, without any fastening. The earth holds them in place."