tated. Noddy was afraid,
from her looks, that something had happened to spoil the anticipated
sport of the morning; but she stepped into the boat, and told him, in
hurried tones, to push off.

"What's the matter, Miss Fanny?" he asked, not a little startled by her
appearance.

"Nothing, Noddy; pull away just as fast as ever you can."

"Are we caught?" said he, as he followed Fanny's direction.

"No; caught! no. Why don't you row faster, Noddy? You don't pull worth a
cent."

"I am pulling as hard as I can," replied he, unable to keep pace with
her impatience.

"I wouldn't be seen here now for anything!" exclaimed Fanny, earnestly,
as she glanced back at the boat-house, with a look so uneasy that it
almost unmanned her resolute companion.

Noddy pulled with all his might, and the light boat darted over the
waves with a speed which ought to have satisfied his nervous passenger.
As they reached the point of Van Alstine's Island, a dense smoke was
seen to rise from the boat-house on the pier; and a few moments later,
the whole building was wrapped in flames.

CHAPTER II.

THE CIRCUS AT WHITESTONE.

"Do you see that?" exclaimed Noddy, as he stopped rowing, and gazed at
the flames which leaped madly up from the devoted building.

"I see it," replied Fanny, with even more agitation than was manifested
by her companion.

"I don't understand it," added Noddy.

"The boat-house is on fire, and will burn up in a few minutes more. I
think it is plain enough;" and Fanny struggled to be calm and
indifferent.

"We must go back and see to it."

"We shall do nothing of the kind. Pull away as hard as ever you can, or
we shall not get to Whitestone in season."

"I don't care about going to Whitestone now; I want to know what all
that means."

"Can't you see what it means? The boat-house is on fire."

"Well, how did it catch afire? That's what bothers me."

"You needn't bother yourself about it. My father owns the boat-house,
and it isn't worth much."

"All that may be; but I want to know how it got afire."

"We shall find out soon enough when we return."

"But I want to know now."

"You can't know now; so pull away."

"I shall have the credit of setting that fire," added Noddy, not a
little disturbed by the anticipation.

"No, you won't."

"Yes, I shall. I told Ben I wished the boat-house would catch afire and
burn up. Of course he will lay it to me."

"No matter if he does; Ben isn't everybody.