e and more as I neared the end. Here I hung, swaying up and
down and to and fro in a highly unpleasant manner, while I waited the
crucial moment.

Never upon this whole round earth did anything creep as that boat did.
There was a majestic deliberation in its progress that positively
maddened me. I remember to have once read an article somewhere upon
the "Sensibility of Material Things," or something of the sort, which I
had forgotten long since, but as I hung there suspended between heaven
and earth, it came back to me with a rush, and I was perfectly certain
that, recognising my precarious position, that time-worn, ancient boat
checked its speed out of "pure cussedness."

But all things have an end, and so, little by little the blunt bow
crept nearer until it was in the very shade of my tree. Grasping the
branch, I let myself swing at arm's length; and then I found that I was
at least a foot too near the bank. Edging my way, therefore, still
further along the branch, I kicked out in a desperate endeavour to
reach the boat, and, the bough swaying with me, caught my toe inside
the gunwale, drew it under me, and loosing my grasp, was sprawling upon
my hands and knees, but safe aboard.

To pick myself up was the work of a moment, yet scarcely had I done so,
when Lisbeth opened her eyes, and sitting up, stared about her.

"Why--where am I?" she exclaimed.

"On the river," I answered cheerfully. "Glorious afternoon, Lisbeth,
isn't it?"

"How-in-the-world did you get here?" she inquired.

"Well," I answered, "I might say I dropped in as it were." Lisbeth
brushed the hair from her temples, and turned to me with an imperious
gesture.

"Then please take me back at once," she said.

"I would with pleasure," I returned, "only that you forgot to bring the
oars."

"Why, then, we are adrift!" she said, staring at me with frightened
eyes, and clasping her hands nervously.

"We are," I nodded; "but, then, it's perfect weather for boating,
Lisbeth!" And I began to look about for something that might serve as
a paddle. But the stretchers had disappeared long since--the old tub
was a sheer hulk, so to speak. An attempt to tear up a floor board
resulted only in a broken nail and bleeding fingers; so I presently
desisted, and rolling up my sleeves endeavoured to paddle with my
hands. But finding this equally futile, I resumed my coat, and took
out pipe and tobacco.

"Oh, Dick! is there nothing you can do?" she aske