按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the green roof。
〃Nor the bananas； please！〃 added Gerty； looking round one end。
〃Nor the pink and blue ribbon to tie our shell…baskets；〃 called
Mamie； nearly tumbling into the aquarium at the other end。
Mrs。 Minot laughed； and promised； and rumbled away； leaving Jill
to an experience which she never forgot。
For half an hour the little girls worked busily； then the boys came
for Gerty and Mamie to go to the Chasm with a party of friends
who were to leave next day。 Off they went； and Jill felt very lonely
as the gay voices died away。 Everyone had gone somewhere； and
only little Harry Hammond and his maid were on the beach。 Two
or three sand…pipers ran about among the pebbles； and Jill envied
them their nimble legs so much； that she could not resist getting up
to take a few steps。 She longed to run straight away over the firm；
smooth sand； and feel again the delight of swift motion； but she
dared not try it； and stood leaning on her tall parasol with her
book in her hand； when Frank； Jack； and the bicycle boy came
rowing lazily along and hailed her。
〃Come for a sail； Jill？ Take you anywhere you like；〃 called Jack；
touched by the lonely figure on the beach。
〃I'd love to go； if you will row。 Mamma made me promise not to
go sailing without a man to take care of me。 Would it spoil your
fun to have me？〃 answered Jill； eagerly。
〃Not a bit； come out on the big stones and we'll take you aboard；〃
said Frank； as they steered to the place where she could embark the
easiest。
〃All the rest are gone to the Chasm。 I wanted to go； because I've
never seen it； but； of course； I had to give it up； as I do most of the
fun〃； and Jill sat down with an impatient sigh。
〃We'll row you round there。 Can't land； but you can see the place
and shout to the others； if that will be any comfort to you；〃
proposed Frank； as they pulled away round the pier。
〃Oh； yes； that would be lovely！〃 and Jill smiled at Jack； who was
steering； for she found it impossible to be dismal now with the
fresh wind blowing in her face； the blue waves slapping against the
boat； and three good…natured lads ready to gratify her wishes。
Away they went； laughing and talking gayly till they came to
Goodwin's Rocks； where an unusual number of people were to be
seen though the tide was going out； and no white spray was
dashing high into the air to make a sight worth seeing。
'What do you suppose they are about？ Never saw such a lot of
folks at this time。 Shouldn't wonder if something had happened。 I
say； put me ashore； and I'll cut up and see；〃 said the bicycle boy；
who was of an inquiring turn。
〃I'll go with you；〃 said Frank； 〃it won't take but a minute； and I'd
like to discover what it is。 Maybe something we ought to know
about。〃
So the boys pulled round into a quiet nook； and the two elder ones
scrambled up the rocks； to disappear in the crowd。 Five； ten；
fifteen minutes passed； and they did not return。 Jack grew
impatient； so did Jill； and bade him run up and bring them back。
Glad to know what kept them； Jack departed； to be swallowed up
in his turn； for not a sign of a boy did she see after that； and；
having vainly strained her eyes to discover the attraction which
held them； she gave it up； lay down on their jackets； and began to
read。
Then the treacherous tide； as it ebbed lower and lower down the
beach； began to lure the boat away； for it was not fastened； and
when lightened of its load was an easy prize to the hungry sea；
always ready to steal all it can。 Jill knew nothing of this； for her
story was dull； the gentle motion proved soothing； and before she
knew it she was asleep。 Little by little the runaway boat slid farther
from the shore； and presently was floating out to sea with its
drowsy freight； while the careless boys； unconscious of the time
they were wasting； lingered to see group after group photographed
by the enterprising man who had trundled his camera to the rocks。
In the midst of a dream about home； Jill was roused by a loud
shout； and； starting up so suddenly that the sun…umbrella went
overboard； she found herself sailing off alone； while the distracted
lads roared and beckoned vainly from the cove。 The oars lay at
their feet； where they left them； and the poor child was quite
helpless； for she could not manage the sail； and even the parasol；
with which she might have paddled a little； had gone down with all
sail set。 For a minute； Jill was so frightened that she could only
look about her with a scared face； and wonder if drowning was a
very disagreeable thing。 Then the sight of the bicycle boy
struggling with Jack； who seemed inclined to swim after her； and
Frank shouting wildly； 〃Hold on！ Come back！〃 made her laugh in
spite of her fear； it was so comical； and their distress so much
greater than hers； since it was their own carelessness which caused
the trouble。
〃I can't come back！ There's nothing to hold on to！ You didn't fasten
me； and now I don't know where I'm going！〃 cried Jill； looking
from the shore to the treacherous sea that was gently carrying her
away。
〃Keep cool！ We'll get a boat and come after you；~ roared Frank；
before he followed Jack； who had collected his wits and was
tearing up the rocks like a chamois hunter。
The bicycle boy calmly sat down to keep his eye on the runaway；
calling out from time to time such cheering remarks as 〃All aboard
for Liverpool！ Give my love to Victoria！ Luff and bear away when
you come to Halifax！ If you are hard up for provisions； you'll find
an apple and some bait in my coat…pocket；〃 and other directions for
a comfortable voyage； till his voice was lost in the distance as a
stronger current bore her swiftly away and the big waves began to
tumble and splash。
At first Jill had laughed at his efforts to keep up her spirits； but
when the boat floated round a point of rock that shut in the cove；
she felt all alone； and sat quite still； wondering what would
become of her。 She turned her back to the sea and looked at the
dear； safe land； which never had seemed so green and beautiful
before。 Up on the hill rustled the wood through which the happy
party were wandering to the Chasm。 On the rocks she still saw the
crowd all busy with their own affairs； unconscious of her danger。
Here and there artists were sketching in picturesque spots； and in
one place an old gentleman sat fishing peacefully。 Jill called and
waved her handkerchief； but he never looked up； and an ugly little
dog barked at her in what seemed to her a most cruel way。
〃Nobody sees or hears or cares； and those horrid boys will never
catch up！〃 she cried in despair； as the boat began to rock more and
more； and the loud swash of water dashing in and out of the
Chasm drew nearer and nearer。 Holding on now with both hands
she turned and looked straight before her； pale and shivering；
while her eyes tried to see some sign of hope among the steep
cliffs that ros