18 THE FISHERMAN’S BOY.

called it sailing ; but he could not sail so
long, for the tide would soon ebb away, and
leave him hard aground.”

“What time in the day was it high
tide?’’ said Lucy.

“OQ, different tirmes, on different days. It
was high tide an hour later every day. Well,
as I was saying, Jock was pushing his boat
about, waiting for his father ; and presently
he called: out,

“¢Come, father, come; I’m sailing. If
you don’t come quick, I shall be gone.’

“His father laughed, and came along with
some lines in one hand, and a sort of a bag
in the other.” |

‘What was in the bag?” said Rollo.

‘Some bread and cheese, and a little keg
of water to drink. They always have to
carry water on the sea, for the sea-water is
salt, and not good to drink.

“So the fisherman came down, and put
his lines and his bag into the boat, and then
cast off the painter from the stake, and after
giving the boat a slight shove off from the
land, he stepped in himself, and Jock began
to shove off with his boat-hook.

«“ ¢ Now, father,’ says Jock, ‘you sit still,