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THE ANIMALS SWIM ASHORE 59 |
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had decided to make a little expedition into the woods across the river to see whether she could not find some place more suitable for a camp than the bare, rocky seashore. The boys were of course delighted to go with her ; and the whole party sallied out, Jack and Ernest carrying guns.
'I thought,' she said, ' how merciful it was that you had taught the boys to use firearms from their earliest years, for many boys of their age would hardly know one end of a gun from the other, yet now I must depend upon my two young sons of thirteen and fourteen for protection in many dangers. The river was difficult to cross, Ernest hopped over on large stones, I carried little Francis on my back and followed him, while Jack plunged boldly in, seeming rather to enjoy the cold water than not. The long grass on the other side was very difficult to get through—in places it was over the dog's heads. I kept my eye upon them, however, and noticed that Jack was loitering a little behind, and I turned to see what he was doing. I saw him tearing up handfuls of grass, and wiping his clothes with them, and then shaking his pocket-handkerchief and laying it on his shoulders to dry.
' " Oh, mother," said he, when he saw me looking, " I believe all the water of the river has got into |
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