a disgraceful plight. And then he
conceived the rest of the brilliant plan himself. They would not steal
Nancy away this time, but they would go to the Birch Crick, and if
Danny was there they would send a message by him to Nancy, asking her
if she would not like to be kidnapped, and he mentally resolved that
Isabel could be put off while he and Danny performed the glorious deed.

Isabel, quite innocent of his traitorous plot, agreed to this
modification of her plan; and the next morning, having obtained
Kirsty's reluctant permission to go on an indefinite fishing
expedition, they set off down the Scotch Line, bursting with excitement.

The Birch Creek crossed the road, flowing cool and brown beneath the
old log bridge; a fine place for paddling with bare feet, but the two
adventurers had no time for any such trivial pastime. They plunged
into the undergrowth and followed the stream through a riotous
confusion of long grasses and shrubs, where the yellow touch-me-not,
the pink willow weed, the tall white turtle-head, and the blazing
golden-rod grew in a tangle of wild beauty. They scrambled along with
joyous shouts, sometimes on land, more often in the water. Frequently
they had to stoop and crawl beneath the green canopy of birch and elm
and willow that covered the stream and through which the golden
sunbeams scarcely struggled to the cool, brown surface. Out in the
open spaces the dragon fly darted here and there like a little blue
spear. The shy trout fled dismayed before the two noisy intruders; the
waxen blossoms of the arrowhead, the broad shining leaves and
golden-hearted blossoms of the water lily and the stately blue spikes
of the pickerel weed bent before their ruthless tramping. A
kingfisher, startled from his day's work by the uproarious pair, shot
down the stream, his derisive laugh echoing far through the leafy
avenue. The two almost forgot the great import of their journey in its
delight. Scotty splashed ahead, capering from fallen log to sunken
stump; and after him came his faithful follower, bespattered with mud,
dripping wet, even to the crown of her golden curls, and filling the
air with her joyous shrieks of laughter over Scotty's wild antics.

And to crown their happy excursion, as they came round a sudden bend in
the stream, there came a splashing sound ahead; a welcoming shout
greeted them, and here was Danny sailing down upon them, his red head
shining like a beacon in the stern of th