216 The Disobedient Island.

“There is nothing there,’ said his father,
“but water, water, water. You must remain
where you are, it is not safe for you to move, my
son.”

Nothing more was said, and the Papa-Island
was soon asleep. But the little Island was not
asleep but very wide awake. When he found
that his father slept, he began very cautiously to
move. First he stretched himself, then raised
himself slowly, s-l-o-w-l-y, when suddenly, ‘ c-r-
r-r-r-rack” went the bridge, broken right in the
middle! This bridge the Island had quite forgot-
ten, and he was so frightened, that he sat down
again, sf/ash, into the water. Then he listened
to see if he had waked up his father, but no, the
old fellow was sleeping soundly. Islands, when
once they get aleep, are very sound sleepers.
After a few moments the naughty little son got up
again very, very quietly, and this time made no
noise but stepped farther and farther away from
his home. At first he was much pleased, as the
Moon was shining brightly, and the water was not
deep. But the Moon, as it happened, was a great