e of the water, and greatly enjoyed
even the slow progress made by the paddles of her boatmen in the
unwieldy craft. Meanwhile, the waggon arrived as near the encampment as
it was possible to get; the company descended to the blackened ground;
and Mr. Perrowne found a path for the ladies up to the ruins. The
horses, sedate, well-behaved animals, were unhitched, and allowed to
pick about where they pleased, after which the three gentlemen carried
the wraps and picnic baskets and pails to where the ladies stood,
inspecting the ravages of the fire. Muggins had come with Mr. Perrowne,
and sniffed about, rediscovering the treasure hole which had so nearly
proved fatal to the Squire. It was agreed to go down to the water's
edge, and encamp upon some green spot, near good fishing, over which the
bush fire had not run. Such a place was found to the right of the
caved-in tunnel, a broad patch of fine-leaved native grass, shaded by
oaks and maples of second growth. There the provisions were deposited,
and, the rugs being spread over the grass, the ladies sat down to await
the arrival of the boat party. A good three-quarters of an hour passed
before they heard the splash of the paddles, and Muggins ran barking to
meet the intruders upon the sabbath stillness of the scene. While
waiting, Mrs. Carmichael and Mr. Errol took a stroll in the dark woods
adjoining, and brought back some floral specimens in the shape of
Prince's Pines, Pyrolas, and Indian Pipes, which were deposited in the
lap of the finder's daughter, with a suggestiveness that young lady felt
disposed to resent. However, Marjorie's voice was heard just then, and
thoughts and conversation were turned into other channels. "Where is the
skiff?" asked the fisherman, but nobody could enlighten him; they simply
answered that it was not there. The colonel remarked that its absence
looked suspicious, and bade them be on their guard. He, accordingly,
inspected the arms of the expedition, and finding them to consist of two
fowling pieces, those of Messrs. Perrowne and Bigglethorpe, and two
pistols borne by Mr. Terry and himself, was comforted. As the fisherman
had inaugurated the picnic, it was obviously his duty to act as master
of ceremonies. He proposed making two fishing parties, one off the scow,
and another off a pier, which he and the gentlemen were about to build
out from the shore below the picnic ground.

A large pine had been felled many years before, probably by lumber