oing to find an island of our own
somewhere out in the mere, where no one ever goes, and have no end of
fun."

"And so we will," said Dick eagerly. "We could keep it secret, and
there would be the sort of place to be and watch."

"What, out there?"

"To be sure! Whoever does all this mischief comes in a boat, I'm sure
of that, and he wouldn't suspect us of watching, and so we could catch
him."

Tom screwed up his face in doubt, but the idea of starting a sort of
home out there in the middle of the wild fen-land had its fascinations,
and the plan was discussed for long enough before they parted that day.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

ANOTHER TRIP.

The two lads had left the grammar-school in the county town about a year
before in consequence of a terrible outbreak of fever; and, Mrs
Winthorpe declaring against their going back, they had been kept at
home. But though several plans had been proposed of sending them for
another year's education somewhere, the time had glided by, the business
of the draining had cropped up, and as the lads proved useful at times,
the school business kept on being deferred, to the delight of both, the
elongated holiday growing greatly to their taste. Even though they were
backward from a more modern point of view, they were not losing much,
for they were acquiring knowledge which would be useful to them in their
future careers, and in addition growing bone and muscle such as would
make them strong men.

Hence it was that the time glided pleasantly on, with the two lads
finding plenty of opportunities for the various amusements which
gratified them when not occupied in some way about the farms.

It was a few days after the conversation with the squire that Tom
proposed a turn after the fish in Hickathrift's boat.

"We could pole ourselves without Dave; and let's ask Mr Marston to
come. It's a long time since he has had a holiday."

Dick's brow was overcast, and he wore generally the aspect of a boy who
had partaken of baking pears for a week, but his face cleared at this,
and he eagerly joined in the plan.

"We'll get Hicky to lend us his boat, and pole down as far as we can,
and then run across to Mr Marston."

Their preparations did not take long, and though they were made before
they knew whether they could have the punt, they did not anticipate any
objections, and they were right.

Hickathrift was busy sawing, but he looked up with a broad grin, and
leaving his work went d