made them laugh, they thought it great fun.

"You have not got your sea legs yet," said one of the men, "you must just sit still or lie down in the boat."

But Tom did not like to sit still.

"May I learn to row?" he said.

"You may try by all means," said John, and he put the boy on the seat and gave him

an oar.

But the oar was so big that Tom's small hands would not hold it, and it gave him such a knock that he fell back off the seat with his feet up in the air. At this they all gave a laugh.

Then the kind John sat down on the seat by the side of Tom and took hold of the oar with him, to teach him how to row.

"You will learn in time," he said, "but it is hard work for a boy like you. Would you like to leave off now?"

'Yes, please sir," said Tom, "it makes arms ache so."

my

"Now we are in the deep sea," said the men.

"We must throw out the net for the fish." So they stood up with the great net in their hands, and threw it out by the side of the boat; and then John took a long rod with a string to it, he put a fly on a hook at the end of the string or line, and threw it on the sea.

"I must try to catch some fish too," he said.

Now watch my line on the sea, if it sinks that shows there is a fish at the end of it."

So both the boys set to work to watch John's line. It soon sank, and then John gave a pull and up came a great fish, caught by the hook at the end of the line.

John took the poor fish off the hook and threw it in a pail in the boat, then he put a new fly on the hook, and threw out his line He caught lots of fish in this

once more.

way.

At last the men said they must turn the head of the boat, as it was time to go home.

They had to make the boat go round to turn it to the land. As they did this the boat gave such a lurch, and one side went down so low, that the sea came in and made

Fred quite wet; but he was a brave boy and did not cry, though he was thrown right off his seat.

"You are a man!" said John. "The sea will not hurt you, your clothes will be quite dry by the time we get home."

They went home fast when once the boat had her head the right way.

When they got near the land John gave a leap and was soon out of the boat. Then he gave Tom and Fred a hand to help them out too; and then the men drew the net to shore. There were lots and lots of fish in it. As the men took them out of the net to kill them the sun shone on them and made them shine, they were so bright.

Then John took a bag made of straw and put nine or ten fish in it. "Take them home it." to your aunt for tea," said John, as he gave Tom the bag full of fish, "and tell her you have been such good boys that I hope she will let you go with me the next time I go out to fish."

So Tom and Fred ran home hand in hand

quite proud of their bag full of fish. They found their aunt, and nurse, and Loo, all at the house door on the watch for them.

"I am glad you have come back safe and sound," said their aunt, as she gave them each a kiss. And then they all went in doors

to tea.

The next day they all went for a walk in the fields, and as it was hot they sat down in the shade of some fine trees to rest.

How nice it would be if aunt would tell us a tale while we sit here; will you aunt?" "Do please, dear aunt," said they all.

"I will tell you a true tale of a dog and a cat that I once knew," said Aunt Bell, "it is the tale of

CHAPTER IV.

NELL AND HER LOST PUPS.

THERE was a dog whose name was Nell. She was a fat dog with one brown ear and one white one, a sharp nose, and a thin rat tail. She had no curls on her back like True, but short brown hair. She was not half such a fine dog as True, and dogs like True did not care to make friends with poor Nell, for they thought her a low sort of a dog. You see dogs are some-times proud as well as men, and the grand fine dogs do not care for the poor curs.

Now, Nell was a queer sort of a dog, there was no doubt of that, but for all that she had a friend. And who do you think Nell's friend was? Why, the big white cat. I dare say she did not know that Nell was not quite a well bred dog.