At last he called Jonas to come and help him set the stump on fire.
Jonas said that he did not think that it could be set on fire.
"'Jonas, I have found a hollow stump here,' said Rollo, calling with a loud voice."—[Page 122].
"Because," said Jonas, "it is so wet."
"Yes, but, Jonas," replied Rollo, "your brush heaps burn, and why should not this stump?"
"Because," said Jonas, "the stump is more solid, and the water soaks into it more in the winter and early in the spring; and it takes it much longer to dry, than it does brush and small roots, which lie open and exposed to the air."
"Well, then," replied Rollo, "why does not my birch bark burn? that is dry; but as soon as I drop it down into the stump, it goes out."