dark. They chose a sheltered place where the rain had not reached, and Archy made his little sister lie down and try to sleep. He told Mousy to do the same, that he might keep Marjy warm; and the child threw her arms round the little dog, and they went to bed together. Still Marjy could not sleep. She kept sobbing quietly to herself, and thinking of her mamma, and wishing she were at home.

CHAPTER VI.

THE NIGHT-WATCH.

RED sat on the ground near his sister, and now his head nodded forward and his eyes closed, and Archy was left watching alone. Then in the darkness there came back to him the words that Marjy had said,"I think we were very wicked to get into the boat without leave; and now we shall be starved and die on the island."

It was Archy who had proposed getting into the boat, and who had unfastened it, and pushed it off. He had led his younger brother and sister into the mischief. Now he could remember that something had checked him when first he thought of it, for he knew his papa would not approve of their going, but he had not chosen to listen to that "something."

And now, supposing little Marjy died of cold and hunger!

Archy was greatly distressed; he feared a return of the storm; he feared that more snakes might be hidden in the grass; he feared the darkness which was coming on. Fred and Marjy were now both asleep and he was quite alone.

He buried his face in his hands to think what amidst all these fears should he do? He did what I hope you will do, little children, when you have done wrong and are sorry for it, and when you are frightened and sad; he did what all good boys and all good men will do in such a case; he raised his head, rose, and then knelt to pray to God, to pray for help and for safety.

Then Archy took off his jacket, and laid it over his little sister and Fred, and sat down again, for he did not like to go to sleep lest any more snakes should come.

You have heard, I dare say, that a boat will drift different ways in the water, according to the tide, and that the tide will change morning and