'I do believe that's her calling us!' cried Ferky. O dear! I hope she doesn't see us!'

'Yes it is!' exclaimed Punny, popping his head quickly up, and more quickly down again.

The savages!' whispered Robinson.

'Oh don't let them catch us!' whispered Friday, in great agitation. They'll eat us both!'

This was becoming delightful.

'It really is a little like the true Robinson Crusoe !' said Ferky.

'I wish it was anybody but nurse, though,' said Punny. She won't understand about the desert island, I'm afraid.'

'I say, let's have the loaf,' said Punny. 'I'm dreadfully hungry. It must be past dinner-time a good bit.'

Ferky tried to reach the loaf off the ledge on which it rested, but being afraid of sitting up straight, lest he should be seen from the beach, he was very nearly overbalanced, and in saving himself, let go the loaf, which went after the cheese.

Robinson and Friday looked at one another in dismay.

'We shall have to eat crabs,' said Robinson. 'Alive?' asked Friday, with a face of blank horror.

'No; cooked. We've got matches, you know,'

said Robinson.

'Yes, but-one can't cook crabs with matches,' said Friday.

'It's a bad job,' replied Robinson. 'I made sure we should be able to get sticks to cook our meat.'

'On a sea-weedy rock?' asked Friday.

'Don't be stupid! You know it's a desert island!' returned Robinson.

There was a pause, during which Crusoe and his man Friday looked out at the sea, and wished for their dinner. It began to rain. Large drops fell upon the desert island, and the little boys felt very wretched.

'I don't think I care so much for this play after all,' said Punny at last.

'Neither do I,' replied Ferky. 'I believe there's going to be a thunderstorm.'

Black threatening clouds had been gathering for some time over their heads, and now, as Ferky finished speaking, there came a flash of lightning, followed by a loud clap of thunder.

The little boys sprang up, terrified, and fled from the rock, homewards. Happily for them, the tide had only just turned, or they would have found it no easy matter to get back to the beach; as it was, they sprang into the water without a thought of boots, stockings, or knickerbockers, leaving the carpet-bag and its contents behind in their fright. Splash,

splash, plunge, dash, headlong on they went, not even seeing Edmund before them, in their haste, until they tumbled up against him.

'Here you are, are you?' he exclaimed, sternly. 'Where have you been?'

'On a desert island,' said Ferky. But, O Eddy, take us home safe, please! We're so frightened !'

Flash after flash came, peal after peal of thunder, and the rain poured down in torrents, as they hurried homewards, a hand of each in Edmund's. Nothing more was said by either of the culprits, until they stood, dripping like waterspouts, before mamma and

nurse.

'We are very sorry!' they cried then. 'We will never play Robinson Crusoe again!'

Of course they were put to bed directly, and there we will leave them. That was generally the end of Punny's and Ferky's adventures, and is really the only safe place for little boys.

CHAPTER XII.

THE PICNIC.

W

HEN Violet went in-doors, Jessie and Alice came running to her to tell her the joyful news that they were all going for a picnic with Miss Tudor, and Gerty

and May, the next day.

'She is mamma's friend, and she was so glad

to see her! and we are going in the steamer to Walden Island, and we are to have dinner and tea there. Won't it be delightful!'

Baby Bud thought it would, indeed.

'We didn't see the little Flappys, for they were out,' said Jessie, 'and I'm sorry for that. They have rabbits and pigeons, and all kinds of things-a great dog, and a donkey. The aunt said we should see them all some day when Gerty and May were at home to show them to us.'

'They were on the beach with me,' said Violet. 'See the shells they gave me! Aren't they beauties!'

'Oh, what loves! I haven't any like this, nor this!' said Jessie eagerly.

'Take any you like, dear,' said Violet.

On which Jessie picked out the best and prettiest of them all, and saying, 'Thank you, dear Baby Bud,' went away to put them with her own private store, which she kept in a drawer up-stairs.

Alice stood by, looking quite angry. 'Bud,' she said, 'she's taken all the best ones!'

'I know,' replied Violet.

'How can you be so quiet about it!'

'Because of something mamma told me on Sunday,' said Violet, hesitating.

'What was that?' asked Alice.

'She said they were the words of the Lord Jesus; "It is more blessed to give than to receive," said Violet. 'I have been thinking about it ever since. I have so few ways in which I can give others pleasure. It seems to me that I only receive.

'And of course you ought to,' said Alice. 'You're the sick one. We ought all to give to you, darling.'

'No,' said Violet. 'Mamma said there was great danger of sick people thinking that, and growing selfish. I don't want to be selfish! It's so horrid to be selfish!' The tears stood in her eyes.

'I am sure you are not, then, dear Bud,' said Alice, kissing her. 'But Jessie is.'

'Never mind that,' said Violet. 'She'll feel differently some day.'