86 . BRAGGADOCIO.

done. Shouldn’t you say the house would be
about eight feet square ?

“Yes, just about,” said Bessie, who by this
time had tied on her little red cloak and pink
sun-bonnet, and was standing with her basket
on her arm, all ready for a start.

“Well, here goes,” said Tom, looking at the
foundation of his house, as if very unwilling
to leave it.”

Bessie.—Come, come; you know since we
have once got here, it will be easy enough to
get here again.

Tom.—I never spent so charming a day in
all my life. Come again! That we will, every
day.

They now hurried across the little island,
and there was the boat safely riding at an-
chor—the anchor being high and dry on the
shore !

*¢ Off and away over the blue water,” shout-
ed Tom, plying the oars, while Bessie sat in
the stern of the boat, steering according to
Tom’s direction.

After rowing a short distance, Tom found