ased at the feat that she laughed aloud. It
was the first chance she had ever had to get alone to the river.
Somebody had always been on hand to pull her away just in time to save
her feet from touching the water. Now they touched it in comfort, and
little cool ripples washed over the toes of her stockings--she had
pulled her shoes off long ago in the house. She ran up and down the edge
of the water a few times, and then began picking up sticks and stray
leaves to throw into it. Higher and higher her spirits rose with the
sport. If it had not been for Barbara's song, Robin would surely have
heard Elsy shout. But Robin was lazy in his old age, and was actually
snoring. Elsy spied a pretty goose-feather, and gave it a toss. The
breeze carried it farther out on the water than the small maid intended.
But she was fearless, and catching at some cat-tails growing on the
bank, she waded in after her feather.

[Illustration: THE RESCUE.--DRAWN BY H. P. SHARE.]

She stumbled over the uneven bottom, and the stones hurt her soft little
feet. Down she went, head and all under water, just as the geese came,
ready at last for their swim. When they saw Elsy splashing about, they
thought she was trespassing. Or perhaps they understood perfectly well
that the river, although safe for them, was a dangerous place for the
innocent baby. Who knows? Certain it was that as Elsy went down under
the water, the geese flapped their wings, and made a tremendous racket.
They made such a noise as never had been heard in the place before. They
wakened old Robin at last, and brought him quick as a flash to his post
of duty. Oh, he could make noise enough then, to be sure! He could tear
round the house like a hurricane, dash down the path and into the water,
seize little Elsy's dress, and hold her head above the surface until her
father came to the rescue, plunged into the river, and in another minute
had borne his darling safely to land. Her bright eyes were closed, and
her form lay quite senseless against her father's bosom, while Robin
looked up to be sure she was safe, and Barbara ran terrified from the
house, her singing silenced at last.

But Elsy opened her eyes again before long. Joy greeted the little life
saved, and the mother half smothered old Robin with kisses, in spite of
his dripping coat, which utterly ruined her kerchief.

John Evans and his good dame would never have cheated a mouse of its
due, yet they petted and honored old Robin