Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-23
CONTINUED FROM PRECEDING PAGE

nod pleasantly as they passed; even the fat
ofd grandfather frogs, undsturbed by the keel
OF the. Maytiower. gave the two little sailors
sow but friendly. winks as they drifted by.
They sang and laughed and chatted, ate
cookies and cherries; but alasl for Pete's
prqphesies and Trix's hopes, they caught not a
>, Perhaps the merry young voices gave the
"ehubs' warning Perhaps the BIG crumbs
9i M cake that Jessie flung overheard made them
Irixs hook
Isn't ,!,sq it time to turn back?" asked Tessie
"a Httie tue anxlousy, as the water on each side
at the Neck, Trix"
Hush said Trix, in an excited whisper
ION n n don't move, or You'll frighten him
oil, Iessle I've got a bite at last"
where? asked Tessie, breathlessly.
r. IN, on my hook, of course! There, you've
and he's pulling awful"
!, On, isn't he?' whispered 1essie.. ''He must
9e big one, sure enough Oh, let him go,
lrIx, let him go! Maybe it's shark.
.utha shark exclaimed Trix,, scornfny
me TO pun him in, Tessie. I've got him, fast
Both pairs of little hands tugged excitedy
at the straining line.
=. Play him little-play him little; Tes-
eer anxiety. STEADY now He's coming!
He's coming! Isn't he bouncer? Wen
haye AYE, him baked for supper"
oh, ooh!"' cried Tessie, drawing up her
feet, with shrek, as 1rix landed her prize
fore; Oh, Trix, what is it,"
"Pshaw!" said TriX, in tone Of deep, dis
gust 1T isn't fish at all. It's nothing but
a boot-an old, water-soaked boot. I'll not
catch an indignant fling overheard. ut is
stupid fun, Tessie;. Let's go to the Knoll and
pick Strawberries"
This was a temptation. If Tessie had
weakness it was for strawberries, and the
patch at Moss Manor had given up business
long ago. Though she lowered like robin
over the weed-grown bed, Tessie could not
coax a dishful from it the whole season
through
But, only yesterday Pete jackson had
the kitchen door, and informed Nam Chloe
that he got them at the Knoll, that just
a "rennin' oberp with the wild, sweet fruit.
), And the Knoll, little, hill-shaped island,
that lay where the creek and river met, was
IN SIGHT even now. ,r
Pm afraid" )" said Tessie, hesitating "It
will take SO long to row back
What, if it does?" said T'rix, boldly. I'VE
can get home before, dark and that's all we
want. It's our last chance Tessie. We won't
get here again until every berry is gone.'
"And Aunt Prue will scold anyhow" added
Tessie, with resigned sigh. 81 guess it
won't make much difference. We might as
well 60"
And the boat drifted on over the waters,
that were foaming and sparkling into new life
now as they felt the rush of the deeper stream
beyond.
Trix had to take her oar to guide the boat
to the low bank of the Knoll, where a crook
ed old willow bent its boughs into the dancing
blue waves below.
''Well tie the Mayhower- here" she said,
twisting the worn rope that lay in the stern
about one of the gnarled branches overhead.
ooh, Tessie, look-just look!'
Tessie gave little shrek of delight as she
sprang from the boat, that was left rocking
wildly, at its shaky anchorage.
Never was a richer feast spread for Two
reckless little rovers. The sloping sides of
the Knoll were covered with wild growth
of vines, whose luscious scarlet berries filled
the air with spicy fragrance and drew the
birds and the bees and the butterflies for miles
around.
"Oh-h-h" cried Tessie "If we only had
basket! If we only could come. every day and
pick berries until they're gone!"
"But we can't" replied Trix, grimly. 'It's
the last Wen see of the Knoll and its ltraw-
berries until Strawberries. are gone; SO make
the best of them while they and you are here"
And Trix and Tessie did make the best of
them that summer afternoon Fish had been
a disappointment, strawberries were a sue
cess Ankle-deep in the crimson laden vines
the two little truants wandered from. one point
of the Knoll to the other, staining their faces
and utterly demolishing the remains of their
hats.
There never had been such strawberries
before: there never would be again. 1t was
the last feast and the last fight of grandma 8
wild, free birds. Aunt Prue was waiting to
clip their wings, after her own old-fashioned
pattern.
The sun was very close to the range of
western hills, the sky and the waters were
dyed crimson as Tessie's little finger.tips,