to go for
the milk, perhaps, is it?"

Phil looked at his watch. "Well, I should say it jolly well was!" he
replied. "You'd better be off, young ones--I mean Scourges of the Deep!"

* * * * *

It was quite a pull over to the point where the milk-cans were waiting,
but Kitty and Willy were both good oars, and the doughnuts were crisp
and fortifying.

"Let's take the point by storm!" suggested the gallant England, who had
not had his fill of glory. "The cans might be treasure, you know, and
we can creep up silently."

"But there's no one to hear us be silent!" said Kitty.

"Oh, that's nothing! We can hear ourselves, and, anyhow, it is good
practice. Come on, now! Be silent as the grave!" Leaving the boat on the
shore, they crept up the beach, pounced on the milk-can,--a tall
"separator" which held the whole provision for the family supper and
breakfast,--and bore it in triumph to the boat. But, alas! for the
gallant pirates! In getting aboard, one of them slipped; the other
stumbled; between the two, neither could tell just how, the tall can
toppled, and fell into the boat; the stopper flew out--"Then all the
mighty floods were out!"

* * * * *

"But where _can_ the children be?" asked Mrs. Merryweather, for the
tenth time.

The horn had blown for supper, the fish were fried, the campers were
hungry and thirsty; and the milk had not come.

"Where _can_ they be?" said every one.

Mr. Merryweather put down the glass with which he had been sweeping the
lake. "They are out there!" he said. "I see them, but they don't seem to
be rowing. Give me the megaphone, will you, Jerry? Thanks!"

A calm roar went out across the lake. "Come--in--to--tea!"

A faint pipe was heard in reply. "Don't--want--any--tea!"

The second roar was still calm, but peremptory. "_Come--in!_"

Slowly, very slowly, the oars rose and fell, and the boat crept over the
water. What could be the matter with the children?

"Too much bloodshed has upset the gallant England!" said Phil. "When it
comes to Willy's not wanting his tea!"

"They have had some accident!" said Mr. Merryweather. "Broken an oar,
probably, or lost a rowlock. No. They are both rowing. Well, here they
come."

The whole family started for the wharf, but a piteous wail arose from
the now approaching boat.

"Please don't everybody come down! we want just Papa and Mamma."

"Stay here, dear people, please!" said