rly right, for after Amos had found a fine boiling spring and
had drunk all he wanted and then filled his jug, he had sat down to rest
under a wide-spreading oak tree. The day was hot, he was very tired and
sleepy, having been awake all the night before, and without forgetting the
"Peggy" or her crew, he dropped gently off to sleep. The tide came in,
lifted the "Peggy" from the sand-bar and a gentle breeze carried her
steadily out from shore, and Amos slept on, knowing nothing of what had
happened. The sun was very low in the western sky when he awoke. He sat
up, rubbed his eyes, snatched up the jug and ran to the shore, but there
was no boat to be seen.

Amos was now thoroughly frightened. He ran up and down the quiet shore,
calling the name of his boat and shouting, "Amanda!" "Anne!" at the top of
his voice. The shadows of the summer night deepened, a little haze rose
over the water, and Amos, crouching down near the water's edge, waited for
night to come.

"I know I shall never sleep any more," he whispered to himself, hardly
daring to think of what might happen to the little girls. He wished that
he had lowered the mainsail before coming ashore.

"I ought to have dropped anchor, anyway," he said aloud, and almost forgot
to be hungry in his anxiety.

The shadows grew deeper, night settled down on land and sea and Amos went
fast asleep again, with his bare feet almost within reach of the waves
that rolled so softly up over the smooth sand.

Anne and Amanda watched the tide come in about the "Peggy," and soon felt
the boat move under them. Then the mainsail filled and swung out, as the
breeze came up.

"Try and steer ashore, Amanda," exclaimed Anne.

"I dare not touch the rudder," said Amanda. "Whenever I have been in a
boat, my father has told me to sit still; and I do think it is the best
thing we can do now, Anne."

"Mayhap the wind will take us home again," said Anne, "and then your
father will come back and find Amos."

"More like 'twill take us straight out to sea," said Amanda.

"'Tis all my fault," said Anne; "I did prevail on you and Amos to come."

"We both liked well to come," answered Amanda stoutly. "Amos should have
known better, for he is older. But he likes a risk over well, and now he
can play shipwrecked to his heart's desire."

"My eyes are heavy with sleep," said Anne. "Let us say the small prayer
that Elder Haven taught us and sleep a little. 'Tis dark and foggy; we can
see nothing."