ghed as only dogs can, and chased each other round and round in great
circles, often disappearing for ten minutes at a time, and springing out
and rolling Flossy over and over when she least expected them.

Flossy was gay enough, although she couldn't run, and often leapt fully
six feet high, turning over and over in the air before she came down
again.

And when she did manage to entice the dogs into the water, it was her
turn to show them her skill; and indeed her feats in the water were
marvellous. Anyhow, she used quite to astonish the dogs. They were all
very well in the woods, but couldn't match Flossy in the water, and there
was no use trying it.

CHAPTER VIII

The long mid-day twilights came first, uncertain and gray to begin with,
but getting brighter and more lovely as time went on. It was as if Nature
were trying her hand in painting the sky to give the great king of day a
glorious welcome.

But one day the snow on the mountain peaks changed to a bright red, while
above floated just one streak of crimson cloud; higher up, the stars
shone in a strange, green light, and all the horizon was of the richest
orange colour.

"Oh, surely," cried Pansy, "the sun will rise to-day!"

But the red faded from the mountain-top, the little cloud turned brown,
then gray, then black, and it was night once more.

"No, little sister," said Tom kindly; "but the sun will rise to-morrow."

All went to bed early that night, and were up very early in the morning.
In fact, breakfast was finished before the stars had begun to pale in the
west. Then came twilight itself, and, long though it was, its intense
beauty was the best reward for the waiting, watching little Crusoes.

Every heart was beating quickly, and Pansy was standing on brave Tom's
shoulder, just to be "nearer the sky", she said.

All were silent.

The sun came at last, and with such a silvery sheen, too, that the
children were dazzled.

This was best, for they could not thus see the tears that slowly trickled
down each other's faces.

"Look! look! look!" was all Pansy could say.

"Oh, isn't it splendid!" said Tom, as soon as he could speak.

"Uncle is sure to come now," said Aralia firmly.

"I'll go and fish," Flossy seemed to say as she sprang three times her
length in the air, and turned head over heels like the clown in a circus.

"Come on, Veevee," cried the mastiff, "come for a run in the sunshine."
And off they set.

But the day soon e