ON THE SHORE 359 



"Oh! " exclaimed Dodo, "now that the horses have 

 gone, the good time will begin ; for we can't go back 

 even if we want to." 



The children amused themselves for some time in 

 looking at their new quarters, and then in watching 

 Olaf row out to light the beacon lamps. When it grew 

 dusk they had supper, wondering at the strange stillness 

 of the evening ; for, though it was usually very quiet at 

 the Farm, they had never before known the silence that 

 falls with the twilight on a shore where the water does 

 not rush and beat as on the ocean beaches, but simply 

 laps lazily to and fro, like the swinging of a hammock. 



Presently the stars began to give good-evening Avinks 

 at the beacons — first one, then another and another, 

 until the whole sky twinkled ; Avhile one evening star, the 

 brightest of them all, hurried along the Avest as if it Avere 

 trying to overtake the sun, and kncAV that it Avas fully 

 half an hour behind the jolly god of day. 



"See hoAV the tide is coming in," said Rap, AAdien 

 they returned to the beach. " When Olaf Avent out, he 

 had to push his boat ever so far, and noAV the Avater is 

 almost up to the line of seaAveeds and shells." 



" I Avonder Avhat makes the Avater go in and out ? " 

 questioned Dodo, half to herself. 



" I don't exactly knoAV," said Rap ; " but I think it is 

 because the earth goes round CA^ery day, making the 

 Avater tip from one side to the other and then back 

 again." 



" Then Avhy doesn't it all tip off into the sky ? " per- 

 sisted Dodo. 



"I guess — l)ecause — that is, 1 don't knoAV," stam- 

 mered Rap. 



