The Adventures of Bobby Orde

ed brown linen things, and his hair was parted on one side and very smoothly brushed across his forehead. His mother had b

want to eat peaches and go down in the

hen they turned the corner at the engine-house, the single sturdy stack of the Robert O pourin

to be late,"

Orde easily. "They know what's in this," he

wearing a marvellous "waterfall"; Angus McMullen, alone, his father detained professionally; Mrs. Cathcart and Georgie; young Bradford carrying his banjo, his wonderful raiment and his air of vast leisure; Welton, the lumberman, red-faced, jolly, popular and ungrammatical. The women guarded baskets. All greeted the Orde

," greeted Mrs. Orde, sh

murmured her pleasure. The little girl looked half bashfully through a wealth of natural curls at the grown-ups to whom she was presented in the off-hand method one employs with children. She was altogether a charming little girl. Her hair was of the colour of ripe wheat; her skin was of the light smooth brown peculiar to an exceptional blonde complexion tanned in the sun; her mouth was full and whimsical; and her eyes, strangely enough in one otherwise so lig

harming; and Mrs. Ord

're going to have a nice day together; and I have a

chute level from the wharf. The women were helped aboard soberly by the men. Miss Proctor, however, slipped little slips and screamed little screams, while young Mr. Carlin, Bradford and Welton, with galvanized b

dingly he dropped down to her deck, and, with the natural instinct to see as far ahead as possible, marched immediately to the very prow. The deck proved to slope up-hill strangely, which, in its unlikeness to any floor Bobby had

n a little house. The house had big windows, and on top was an iron eagle with spread wings. T

poke, and above it, racks containing spyglasses, black pipes, tobacco-tins. At hand projected a speaking-tube like that in the back hall at home, and two or three handles connected

do you think of i

eyes, which were steady and unwavering and as blue as the sky. Then he surveyed in turn gravely his heavy bleac

to run a tug?" i

eplied Bobby; "wh

group on the wharf. "If they're going up past the bend to-day, they'll h

f one arm. "There, that's it; that h

almost stopped at the shock of the

commanded C

obeyed. The passen

last was safely aboard; then h

t, go sit on the bunk

y felt beneath him the upheaval and trembling of some mighty force. The wharf seemed to slip back. In another moment at a second tinkle of the bell the tug

fast that he had no desire to move. The slow turn of the great wheel; the throb of the engine; the swift passing of water; the orderly procession of the river banks; the feeling of s

quired with contemptuous wonder. "Come on

adford, Carlin, Welton and Miss Proctor, however, had established themselves in the extreme bow. Miss Proctor perched on the bitts, while the men stood or leaned near at hand. Occasionally, as the tug changed course, M

it seemed to Bobby fearfully near the river; and as he descended to that point he discovered that indeed the displacement of rapid running appeared to force the water even above the level of

e boys hung in the opening fascinated by the regular rise and fall of the polished rods; savouring the feel of heavy heated air and the clean smell of oil. In a moment the negro flung open an iron do

k-house ended. They found themselves on the broad, flat, spoon-shap

s great?"

. Along the edges it was light green shot with blue; and the central line of its down-section waved from side to side like a snake. On either side long, slanting waves pushed

wale astern. The men disposed themselves about her. They talked with a great deal of laughter; but Bobby did not find their conversat

ted. "Honestly I don't-just p

ss Proctor, "I've heard you

to say concerning damp air and the strings. Finally he played the "Spanish Fandango," to the enthusiasm of Miss Proctor and the polite attention of the other men. This he followed by a song called "Listen to the Mocking Bird," the chorus to which consisted of complicated gurgling whistling

lled away unnoticed. The lumbe

y man with the banjo, Tommy,"

put two pennies

g three in so low a voice that Bobby began to think it useless to listen any more; when a loud and prolon

the drawbridge!

; to see the smokestack dip back on its hinges as they passed beneath; and to gloat over the smash

is is Celia Carleton, and I

eft them starin

o?" remarked

you do?"

no furth

," blurted out Bob

id Celia politely

ed Bobby. He was ashamed to say tha

tiffness of her starched, skirts, and the biscuit brown of her

igh-board fence to th

eemed i

n cut anything. He lets me take it whenever I want it. It's awful

I wouldn't want to cu

w that he liked this new acquaintance; she seemed pleasantly to be awestricken. "Com

ght," s

the scornful Angus

oom," he announced ou

did not ca

lly dirty,

im; the daintiness of her; the freshness and cleanness; the dependence of her on Bobby's ten years of experience-all this brought out the latent and instinctive male admiration of the child. He remained heedless of the other three boys hanging awkwardly in the middle distance. All his small

ed smile never left his face; the lean of his head bespoke deep deference; the curve of his body respectful devotion. He talked i

happenings and the talk aboard the craft. So without comment they swept past the tall yellow sand-hills with their fringe of crested trees on the left; and the wide plain on the right. Only Bobby remarked the deep bayou in the bosom of the hills

hens; and the long booms to the left filled with brown logs. From this level, low to the water, these things seemed to them wonderful and vast. After a little the Robert O whistled again. They passed the swing at the upper end of the booms. Old man North stood, in

said Bobby pro

slanting waves, and the round following

end!" cried Bobby excitedly.

a sudden

mamma and the res

"Come on; stay here and see w

eyes. After a long deliberate moment she turned and went forward, followed at a distance by the grieved and puzzled Bobby. In the bow she sidled up to her mother, against whom she leaned lightly, her head on one side,

ow under the reflection of the elms; then as a vague ill-defined form above the River's glassy surface; finally as a wide, low,

dies from her labouring propeller. Captain Marsh, after one prolonged jingle of his bell emerged from hi

s in danger of jamming his hands. At once, with inconceivable dexterity and quickness, he cast loose, ran forward, wrapped the line three times around another pile farther on and braced his short, sturdy legs again

eded from the dock; and this strip of water correspondingly widened and narrowed. Over it every one must step; and the anxieties and preca

gentle curve above the brim, and over the top was wired pink mosquito netting. This at once protected the fruit from insects; added to the brilliancy and softness of its colouring; and lent to the rows of baskets a gay and holiday appearance. The men examined them attentively, t

der people, wishing mightily to take Celia with him; but suddenly afraid to approach her with the direct r

; to gaze with wonder and a little awe on the canopy of waving light green that to his childish sense of proportion seemed as far above him as the skies themselves; to notice how the sunlight splashed through the rifts as though it had been melted and poured down from above; to feel the friendly warmth of summer air under trees; to savour the hot springwood-smells that wandered here and there in the careless irresponsibility of forest spirits off duty. This was Bobby's first experience with woods; and his keenest perceptions were alive to them. The tall trunks of trees rising from the graceful, fragile, half-translucence of undergrowth; lit

en do not grow as plants, so many inches, so many months. The changes prepare long and in secret, without vis

and an open basket of magnificent peaches. Bobby shivered slightly, and looked about him, half dazed, as though he had just awakened. Then quietly he crept

d to call attention, and deliberately broke off a big chunk of Mrs. Owen's frosted work of art and proceeded to devour it. Celia's eyes widened with horror; which to B

ard the Robert O, entrusted to Captain Marsh, provided with three bread-

tified, but shocked to the

ays so good about such things! I've brought him up-and deliberately. My d

stupid, here rose to the heights of what her

il your lunch and ours, all for nothing. Children will be naughty sometimes. I was naughty myself

other's enjoyment. Little by little she cooled off, until at last she was able to join in the fun; altho

n insisted that they a

ect in shape, colour and flavour. Freestone, too. Nothing exceptional about th

hat the peach crop was ruined b

r lau

is destroyed regularly every spring. Seem

they could, there still remained enough to have f

not long cast

tain Marsh after the irate parent ha

e of cake," r

doesn't sou

en's cake," sup

ravely in enlightenment. "W

bby informed him, showing the t

aid the Captain.

to investigate. This came apart in the middle. The top proved to contain cold coffee all sugared and creamed. The bottom had a fringed red-checked napkin, two slabs of pie, two doughnuts, and four thick ham sandwiches made of coar

s with one comprehensive gesture, "what do you w

h?" suggested

ked about him w

he time of day's wrong, and the place don't

sat side by side, dangling their feet over the stern, the poles slanting down toward the dark water, silent and intent. In not more than two min

obby, "there

sunfish," said

look

good?" he inqu

aught Bobby's apprehensive and half-disapp

aid he. "They'

is line, saying he preferred to smoke. Bobby had an excellent time. He was very much su

e steam pressure was up. The Rob

r a little he became aware of it, and was flattered in his secret soul, but he attempted no m

do it?" she ask

" pretend

rs. Owen

I want

know 't wa

our

at last. In this lay confession of the reason for her change of whim; but Bobby could not be expected

o mean this noo

de wid

mean. How

you wouldn't look

d to you or not," she denied.

his hand at her, however, and grinned amiably. To his astonishment she gave him the briefest possible nod over her shoulder; and walked away, her hand clasping tha

te his supper in silence, quite unaware of his mother's disapproval. After supper he hunted up Duke and sat

d his mother.

night to Duke

t like to do this, but you have been

but to-night he set his lips and uttered no sounds. Slap! slap! slap! slap! with deliberate spaces be

was. Mrs. Orde, shocked, scandalized, outraged and now

"You naughty, naughty boy! I don't see what's got int

re than a stone could have borne. After the fif

about it. They were rocking back and forth in the big chair, the twilight all about them.

"Why were you such a bad little boy as to l

ng to be good. You told me not to cry when I

le man!" cried Mrs. Orde b

cked so

Orde gently. "Why did you break Mrs. Owe

m," repl

you do

n't k

when told of Bobby's attempt

he cried. "Guess I'l

said much; but the little boy lay, looking up through the dimness,

silence for at least five

n't you think Celia

retty,

long s

does Celia be nice to me; and then not

ckled softly

There's no explaining it. All little girls

de thought his son must be asleep,

's voice from the darkness,

red the lighted sitting room, "you can recover your soul

ed Mrs. Or

re that little Carleton