over from the surprise. Her expression changed.
The look of alarm caused by my sudden appearance left her face, but the
wonder remained.

"Why! Why, Mr. Paine!" she cried. "Is it you?"

I stepped forward.

"Why, Miss Colton!" said I.

She drew a breath of relief. "It IS you!" she declared. "I was beginning
to believe in hallucinations. How you startled me! What are you doing
here?"

"That is exactly what I was going to ask you," I replied. "I am here for
a fishing excursion. But what brought you to this out-of-the-way place?"

She smiled and patted the horse's shoulder. "Don here brought me,"
she answered. "He saw the water and I knew he was thirsty, so I came
straight down the bank. But I didn't expect to find any one here. I
haven't seen a horse or a human being for an hour. What a pretty little
lake this is. What is its name?"

"It is called Seabury's Pond. How did you find it?"

"I didn't. Don found it. He and I came for a gallop in the woods and I
let him choose his own paths. I have been in his charge all the morning.
I haven't the least idea where we are. There, Don! you have had enough
and you are splashing us dreadfully. Come back!"

She backed the horse out of the water and turned his head toward the
woods.

"It is great fun to be lost," she observed. "I didn't suppose any one
could be lost in Denboro."

"But this isn't Denboro. Seabury's Pond is in Bayport township."

"Is it, really? In Bayport? Then I must be a long way from home."

"You are; four miles and a half, at least. More than that over the
road."

She looked at her watch and frowned slightly.

"Dear me!" she said. "And it is after twelve already. I am perfectly
sure I can't find the way back in time for luncheon."

"I shall be glad to go with you and show you the way."

"No, indeed! Don and I will get home safely. This isn't the first
time we have been lost together, though not on Cape Cod. Of course
I shouldn't think of taking you from your fishing. Have you had good
luck?"

"Pretty fair. Some bass and two good-sized pickerel."

"Really! Bass? I didn't know there were any about here. May I see them?"

"Certainly. They are over there in the bushes."

She swung lightly down from the saddle and, taking her horse by the
bridle, led him toward the spot where my catch lay, covered with leaves
and wet grass. I removed the covering and she bent over the fish.

"Oh, splendid!" she exclaimed, with enthusiasm. "That big one must be