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"Yes, I know the new patch on her stern which I put on only last week. But,” and he let the glass drop, "she is floating."

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Without speaking the fearful conclusion to which this thought seemed to lead, they went to the boat in silence; and, bending all their strength to the oars, rowed towards the speck he had seen. It was indeed his own boat, but no living form was visible; it was tossed hither and thither at the will of the current and waves. They reached it, and Ephraim put out his boat hook and drew it towards him. There lay a little red sack she had worn in the morning, and had thrown off when heated with rowing. Their first dreadful thought was, that she had leaned from the boat and fallen into the water but only for a second. Ephraim grasped his wife's arm, and pointed to the oars lying in the bottom of the boat.

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"She has landed and the boat has drifted away. She is safe," he cried.

"Perhaps she started to meet you," said

Susan; "and could not make the cove, and was carried by the current farther down the shore."

"Let us make for the beach and rouse some people to help us search for her."

Again they bent to the oars and pushed rapidly towards the point of the mainland where she seemed most likely to have landed.

Poor little Jenny woke, too, with the dawn, and wondered indeed, when, instead of her neat whitewashed chamber, she saw the rough walls about her. Rousing herself as from a dream, she listened for the kindly voice of her mother, but all was silent. Remembrance came back to her, and she knew that she was alone on a little island in the midst of the sea. She did not doubt that her mother sought her sorrowing; but would she ever find her there? She went out and looked about her. The sheep were peacefully browsing, and the gulls rose up at her approach and began their wild screaming. She had passed the night in safety. Could she not make some signal

which would be seen afar off? If she only had a flag.

"I've nothing but a petticoat," she said, laughing to herself.

She slipped off the little red woollen skirt, which was her fishing garb, and thought she would climb up to the top of the little shanty and wave it in the air. She was a good climber, and she found chinks in the boards into which she could put her naked feet, and at last she reached the roof and flung out her flag to the breeze. Poor child! she held it out till her arms ached, and she strained her eyes over the sea till they ached too, but all in vain. She sank down discouraged, and cried as if her little heart would break. "But I won't give up," she said. Up again on her feet, she waved the red sign and looked eagerly towards the shore. Surely that was a boat making for the beach!- surely that was a woman in it! What woman would be out at this early hour but a mother searching for her child? Frantic with joy she shouted, –

"Mother! Father! Ephraim! Susan!" but they did not hear her.

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JENNY ON TOP OF THE SHED ON GULL ISLAND. PAGE 40.

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