a sort of roaring sound down in the woods. Rollo
at first thought it was a bear growling.

"Do you think it is a bear?" said he to Lucy, with a look of some
concern.

"A bear!--no," said Lucy, laughing. "That is not the way a bear growls.
It is the freshet."

"The freshet!" said Rollo.

"Yes; it is the water roaring along the brook."

Rollo listened, and he immediately perceived that it was the sound of
water, and he jumped and capered with delight, at thinking how fine a
sight it must be.

At the tea-table Rollo's father explained the plan he had formed for
their going. He said it was rather a difficult thing to go and see a
freshet without getting wet--especially for a girl. He and Rollo, he
said, could put on their good thick boots, but Lucy had none suitable
for such a walk, as it would probably be very wet and muddy in some
places.

"What shall we do then?" said Rollo.

"I believe I shall let Jonas go down and draw Lucy in his wagon," said
his father. "How should you like that, Lucy?"

Lucy said she should like it very well, and after tea they went out to
the garden-yard door, where they found Jonas with his wagon all ready.
This wagon was one which Jonas had made to draw Rollo upon. It was plain
and simple, but strong and convenient, and perfectly safe. They helped
Lucy into it, and she sat down on the little seat. Rollo, with his hoots
on, took hold behind to push, and Jonas drew. Rollo's father walked
behind, and thus they set off to view the freshet.

They moved along carefully through the yard, and then turned by the gate
and went into the field. The path led them by the garden fence for some
distance, and they went along very pleasantly for a time, until at
length they came to a large pool of water covering the whole path. There
were high banks on each side, so that the wagon could not turn out.

"What shall we do now?" said Rollo.

"I can go right through it," said Jonas; "it is not deep."

"And we can go along on the bank, by the side," said Rollo.

"Very well." said his father, "if you are not afraid, Lucy."

Lucy did feel a little afraid at first, but she knew that if her uncle
was willing that she should go, there could not be any danger; so she
made no objection. Besides, she knew that, as Jonas was to walk along
before her, she could see how deep it was, and there could not be any
deep places without his finding it out before the wagon went into them.

Jonas was barefoot, and did no