ods: but the brother and sister
could not think that the raft was the best of the two, when they
remembered that a boat would carry them, perhaps, to their mother's
arms. Oliver knew what Mildred was thinking of when he said,--

"We must not dream of getting away on our raft, dear. It would upset in
the currents twenty times, between this place and the hills."

"Well, what of that?" said Roger. "Who wants to get to the hills? We
have got all we want for a good while here. We can take our pleasure,
and live as free as wild-ducks in a pond that nobody comes near."

Roger was quite in spirits and good humour. It may seem strange that a
boy who was so lazy the day before, as to wish that hares ran about
ready roasted, should work so hard this day at so severe a job as making
a raft. But it was natural enough. There is nothing interesting to a
dull and discontented person, all alone, in preparing a meal for his own
self to eat: but there is something animating in planning a clever job,
which can be set about immediately--a ready and willing companion being
at hand to help, and to talk with. There was also something immediate
to be gained by finishing this raft. One thing or another was floating
by every quarter of an hour, which it would be worth while to seize and
bring home. As Roger saw, now a hay-cock, and now a man's hat, float
by, he worked harder and harder, that as few treasures as possible might
be thus lost. Oliver felt much in the same way, particularly from his
want of a hat or cap. Ailwin had made him tie a handkerchief round his
head; but it heated him, without saving him much from the scorching of
the sun on his head, and the glare from the waters to his eyes.

Ailwin had looked for some compliments to her cookery from the hungry
boys; but they forgot, in their eagerness about the raft, that it was a
treat in these days to have meal-cakes; and they ate and talked, without
thinking much of what it was that they were putting into their mouths.
When they went off again to see what they could find, it is not to be
told how Mildred would have liked to go with them. She did not want her
dinner, to which Ailwin said they two would now sit down comfortably.
She did not now mind the precipice and the broken walls, and the staring
rafters. She longed to stand somewhere, and see the boys take prizes in
the stream. She had held poor George all the morning; for he would not
let her put him on the bed. He