was certainly at a loss to know what was to be done. He waited an
hour, and then, getting very tired of his situation, he began to
consider whether it would not be best for him to entrust himself once
more to his raft, and endeavor to get to the shore by means of his
paddle.

While he was sitting on a point of the rock, in this perplexity, looking
towards the shore that was nearest to him, he suddenly saw a boy coming
upon a horse, along a winding road, which led to the river. He was
driving the horse down to water. The horse advanced to the brink of the
river, when Marco began to call out in his loudest voice,

"Halloo!"

"Halloo!" answered the boy.

"Can't you get a boat, and come and take me off this island?" cried
Marco.

The boy paused a moment, and gazed earnestly at Marco, while the horse
continued drinking.

"How came you on that island?" said the boy, calling out again in a loud
voice.

"I got adrift on some logs," said Marco, "and floated down the river.
Can't you get a boat, and come and take me off?"

"I have not got any boat," said the boy. "There an't any boats about
here."

"I wish you would go and get one," said Marco. "I'll pay you well for
it."

The boy did not answer. He seemed to be hesitating. In the mean time,
the horse, having nearly finished his drinking, lifted up his head and
looked at Marco.

"There is not any boat within a mile," said the boy. "But I should think
you might wade ashore. The water is not deep between here and the
island."

"Then wade out here with your horse," said Marco, "and take me on behind
you."

The boy hesitated a moment, but he finally decided to comply with
Marco's proposal, and accordingly began to advance his horse into the
water. Marco watched his progress with intense interest. As the water
grew deeper, he began to fear that the boy would get discouraged, and
turn back. But the boy kept on. He turned his steps somewhat below the
island, where there was an extensive shoal; the water grew shallower and
shallower, until at last the horse emerged entirely, and stood upon a
little dry sand bank at the lower side of the island.

"I'm very much obliged to you, indeed," said Marco, "for coming for
me--besides the pay. I will pay you for it as soon as we get on shore."

"Oh, no," said the boy, "I don't need any pay just for wading my horse
out here. I wade him out here very often, when I come down to water;
that is, in the summer, when the water is low