THE RETURN. 173

as he seemed entirely at his ease, and uncon-
cerned, they gradually dismissed their fears, and
watched his progress as he slowly approached
them. Lucy was very much interested in the
examination of the raft, as it drew near. It was
made of logs which the boys had cut from the
woods, with smaller pieces laid across and pinned
on, to keep it all together. On the whole, they
concluded that it was a very strong ‘and substan-
tial raft. Robert sailed about upon it for some
time.

Lucy wanted him to go out to the lily pads, to
see if there might not be, possibly, one left; but
her mother was afraid to have him go out where
it was so deep. Besides, Robert said that he
was sure that not a single lily could be found, for
it was altogether beyond the season of them.

While Robert was sailing about upon his raft
in the shallow water, Lucy had a long conversa-
tion with her mother about springs, brooks, and
ponds. Her mother told her that ponds were
occasioned by there being a natural hollow place
among the mountains, surrounded by high land
on all sides, so that the water which ran into it
from brooks and springs, could not run out until
it rose high enough to run over at the lowest
place in the surrounding land ; and that thag, was
the outlet. She also explained to how it
happened that some brooks ran very swiftly,
tumbling over rocks, and others flowed deep and
smooth, and almost still. At length they con-
cluded that it was time to go home. So she took

15*