mother!" had quietly insinuated himself into the group, and neither
threats nor coaxing could force him away.

It was a glorious day; and, as they neared the stream, it seemed to
sparkle into joyous welcome at their approach.

Soon, comfortably seated in the scow, they were pushed and rowed
laboriously along by the good-natured Tom, while Bouncer panted along
the bank, or dashed into the water, splashing the boat in fine style. In
passing the accustomed "limits," the delight of the children knew no
bounds.

"Now for it!" cried Bessie, clapping her hands. "Now we shall find out
where the stream goes to!"

And so they sailed along, following its graceful windings--sometimes
touching bottom, and sometimes skimming smoothly over deep water, where
Kitty could no longer clutch for the tall, bright grass that here and
there had reared itself above the surface. Often Big Tom would sing out,
"Lie low!" as some great bough, hanging over the stream, seemed
stretching out its arms to catch them; and often they were nearly
checked in their course by a fallen trunk, or the shallowness of the
water. At last, upon reaching a very troublesome spot, Tom cried
good-naturedly--

"Now, youngsters, you must all get out while I turn the scow over this
'ere log, and then you can jump in again on t'other side."

With merry shouts they leaped out, one after the other, Tom holding
Kitty in his arms, as he stood knee-deep in the water.