ley full of streams and rather difficult country
was, however, between them and it. They pushed on along the downs; then
they descended another steep hill, and on reaching the plain a rapid
wide stream was before them. Ernest had expected to come down near a
bridge, which he proposed crossing. He and Buttar looked at the broad
stream with a puzzled expression. They were not quite certain whether
the bridge was to the right or left. They decided on taking the left,
going down the stream. At last they met a countryman. They inquired of
him about the bridge.

"Oh; 'tis the other way, lads," he answered. "But, I say, young
measters, bees you runnin' away from school in such a hurry?"

"No, no," answered Ernest, laughing. "We are running for the pleasure
of making the school run after us. If we could get across the stream it
may puzzle them to follow us. Can you show us any place where we may
cross?"

"Yes; that I can," was the answer. "There bees a place with a sort of
an island loike in the middle. There's a plank athwart one place, and a
tree hangs over t'other. If ye be as active as ye looks, ye'll make no
odds a getting over."

"Oh, thank you, thank you, my man, we shall be much obliged to you, and
as your time is your money? here is what is your due," answered Ernest,
handing the countryman a small coin. "But lead on; we have no time to
lose."

"Noa, ma young ones, I'll no take your money. It's too much by half for
just ten minutes' work. Come along though, if ye bees in a hurry," said
the good-natured fellow, putting back the coin, and leading the way down
the stream. "If so be when we gets wages, we never has them, ye know,
till the work is done." He trudged on with his arms swinging before
him, getting quickly over the ground, though his legs did not appear to
move half so fast as those of the young gentlemen. He did not utter a
word all the time, but seemed to concentrate all his energies in getting
over the ground as rapidly as he could. Ernest and Buttar ran on by his
side, dropping the paper here and there sufficiently thick to indicate
their course. At last they reached the spot mentioned by the
countryman. He showed them a narrow plank, partly hid by bushes, by
which they crossed to a green island surrounded by willows, which hung
over into the stream.

"A grand place for fishing, this," observed Buttar, as he looked into
the dark, clear water which went whirling by in eddies, and