t
away, that, as Dexter leaped in, he gave a tug with the sculls, making
the boat jerk so sharply that Dexter's feet began to move faster than
his body, and the said body came down in a sitting position that was
more sudden than agreeable.

"Well, you are a fellow!" cried Bob, grinning. "Any one would think you
had never been in a boat before."

Dexter gathered together the portions of food which had been scattered
in the bottom of the boat, and then sat looking ruefully at his
companion.

"If any of that there's dirty, you've got to eat it," said Bob sourly.
"I shan't."

As he spoke he tugged as hard as he could at the sculls, rowing away
till they were well round the next bend, and quite out of sight of the
woman who stood at the door watching them, and as Bob bent down, and
pulled each stroke well home, Dexter sat watching him with a troubled
feeling which added to his hunger and discomfort. For once more it
began to seem that Bob was not half so pleasant a companion as he had
promised to be when he was out fishing, and they sat and chatted on
either side of the little river.

But he brightened up again as Bob suddenly began to pull harder with his
left-hand scull, turning the boat's head in toward the shore where a
clump of trees stood upon the bank with their branches overhanging, and
almost touching the water.

"Look out! Heads!" cried Bob, as the bow of the boat touched the
leafage, and they glided on through the pliant twigs; and as the sculls
were laid in, Bob rose up in his place, seized a good-sized bough, and
holding on by it worked the boat beneath, and in a position which
enabled him to throw the chain over, and securely moor the little vessel
in what formed quite a leafy arbour with the clear water for floor, and
the thwarts of the boat for seats.

"There," cried Bob, in a satisfied tone, and with a little of his old
manner, "whatcher think o' that? Talk about a place for a bragfuss!
Why, it would do to live in."

Dexter said it was capital, but somehow just then he began to think
about the pleasant room at the doctor's, with the white cloth and china,
and the silver coffee-pot, and the odour from the covered dish which
contained ham or bacon, or fried soles.

"Now then!" cried Bob; "I'm as hungry as you, and we're all safe here,
so hand over."

Dexter gave him one of the portions of bread and cheese--the better of
the two, but Bob turned it over and examined it in a dissatisfied way,
s