188 BRAGGADOCIO.

There were traces of footsteps upon the soft,
sandy beach, where they were accustomed to
land. They were the footprints of a man, and
one who had a very large foot, with an enor-
mous great-toe, such a one as could scarcely
have grown under a perpetual covering of
leather.

“This fellow,” said Howard, “must be one
of the natives. Jam sure he never trod shoe-
ieather.”

Tom.—It is the print of a negro’s foot;
see that long heel and the width at the toes.

Howard.—That is some consolation, for I
suspected George Cramer had been the guilty
person who set fire to our beloved house.

That house was entirely consumed. A few
pieces of glass and pottery the boys found
lying about the furnace, which, with the
chimney, remained standing.

After having surveyed the ruins for a short
time, the boys again dashed in the water, and
never were two swimmers more equally match-
ed. They reached the opposite shore precisely
at the same instant. Nothing had been seen
of the boat, and they gave it up as lost.