LOIS. 45

“Oh, yes, I should like dearly to go,” replied Lois. “I
will run and ask mother if I may.”

These trips in Silas’s boat were Lois’s chief delight, though
they were not very frequent. Lois’s mother allowed her to go
with no one but her father or Silas. She knew the old man
was so fond of the little girl that he would let no danger come
near her if he could help it, and he was a safe boatman, having
been so many years buffeted by the winds and waves.

In a few minutes Lois came running back with Silence,
and was soon safely seated in the boat, which Silas pushed off
from the shore, and they were afloat on the great wide sea.
The little craft careered up and down upon the waves, but Lois
was used to it, and did not mind the tossing about any more
than the rocking of a cradle. The sea-gulls flew around them
and the wind came fresh and full in their faces. They went
out—out into the water; the great black rocks towered up
behind them, and scowled down angrily at the little waves
which foamed up around their feet. Silas did not go often
nowadays with the big fishing-parties; he was getting old, and
preferred his own boat and the company of Lois to that of a
crowd of men.

Silence lay in Lois’s lap, staring up at the sky above her,
and Lois chatted away with Silas while he hauled in the fish.

“ Doyyou think you will catch a-big lot, Silas ?” she asked.
“Tam glad you don’t go ’way off like the other men, for then
I couldn’t go. Silas, if you had a little girl, a daughter or a