LAUNCHING THE BOAT. 71

And the children were happier than Whit-
tington, when he was Lord Mayor of London,
and rode in his gilded coach.

As they drove along, Pat said :—“ Now, my
honies, I’ve a bit of advice to give ye. The
river runs like a racer, and ye must take a
start some ways up if ye wants to get aisy to
the island. [ll dhrive along on the, bank till
we comes to the right place. Ye may know it
again by a stake, that’s jist there to fasten the
beautiful boat to, with a nice shelf over it.”

“Thank you, Mr. Malony ; I might not have
thought of the current.”

They soon came to a turn in the road, and
Pat drove for a while through a narrow path
on the bank of the river. :

“‘ Oh, there is our sweet island !” exclaimed
Bessie, clapping her hands. Pat now made an
abrupt turn, and after a few severe jolts, the
cart was dragged by the oxen down to the
water’s edge.

“Ye sees this is a first-rate landing-place,”
said Pat, “and there yonder under the bank,
is the stake to tie the cratur to. We'll have
her on the water before ye can spake two