54 CAROLINE.

Conversation with the mill-men. Taking in tow.

 

 

what is called a canoe, such as the mill-men used in work-
ing about the booms and dam. It was not originally de-
signed to carry a sail, but the men had rigged a sort of
sail to it, and having rowed to the upper end of the
pond, upon some of their business, before the shower,
they were now returning, and as the wind was favourable
they had hoisted their sail. They had observed the
Robinson Crusoe signal which Phonny had raised, and
were now coming to the island to see who were there.
They came up pretty near the place where the children
were standing on the beach, and then took in their sail,
which, as it was small and light, could be furled in a
moment.

« Are you in any difficulty P” said one of the men.

“Yes,” said Caroline. “We got caught out in the
shower, and we are trying to get to the mill in our boat.”

Here the men talked with each other a minute or two
in an under-tone. They spoke so low that the children
could not hear what they said. At last one of the men
turned his face toward the party on the shore again and
said,

“« Well, get on board your boat and give us the painter,
and we’ll take you in tow.”

Caroline did not know precisely what was meant by
taking in tow, though Phonny understood the phraseology
sufficiently well to know what he was to do. He took
down the flag and put the oar on board. He unfastened
the painter, and held the bow of the boat while Caroline
and Malleville got in. Hethen pushed the boat off from
the shore and leaped in himself, as soon as he had set it
in motion. In the mean time Caroline had resumed her
seat in the stern, and had taken up the paddle.