and as he watched the boats he longed
to be in them.

Suddenly he thought of the boat in which he was. Could he not have
a little sail up and down along the shore? True, he did not know
how to sail a boat, but he could learn; and this seemed as good a
time to learn as any other. He did not know the owner, but on his
return he could pay him what the excursion might be worth. He could
float over this glorious water, and move up and down within easy
reach of the shore, so as to land whenever it might be desirable.

David was not at all an enterprising boy, or an adventurous one.
He was essentially quiet, methodical, and conservative. It was not
because this sail was a risky thing that he tried it, but rather
because it seemed so perfectly safe. There was a breeze,--he felt
it,--and the progress of the boats, afar off on the water, tantalized
him and tempted him on. The result was, that without taking much
time to think about it, David yielded to the inclination of the
moment, and pushing the boat from the land into the water, he let
loose the sail; and then seating himself in the stern, he prepared
to glide over the water.

About sailing David knew absolutely nothing. He was not even
acquainted with the theory of sailing; nor did he know, how, or on
what principle, a sail-boat moves. About steering he was equally
ignorant, nor did he know how a boat obeys its rudder. But he knew
that the one who sails a boat sits in the stern, and holds the
tiller; so David did the same, holding the tiller in his right
hand, and the sheets in his left.

The wind was not very strong, and it happened to be blowing in
such a way that, as he unfurled the sail, it filled at once, and
the boat moved lightly and pleasantly along. The motion filled
David with delight. He saw himself borne on past the shore, at
a gentle rate, and felt that the moment was one of supreme
happiness. Thus, holding sheet and tiller, he resigned himself
to the joy of the occasion.

The wind was moderate, and there was nothing whatever in the movement
of the boat to excite the slightest uneasiness. The wavelets dashed
pleasantly against the bows, and the course of the boat remained
sufficiently straight to keep her sail filled. David saw that
whatever the secret of navigation might be, he had unconsciously
stumbled Upon it; and finding that the boat was doing so admirably,
he was very careful to hold the tiller straight, and not to move
it to either side. So he l