TWO YOUNG NATURALISTS. 159 



" Willingly," and the pair receded a few steps in 

 the direction of the beach. 



As the two cousins remained behind at a discreet 

 distance, " You may come with us," called Uncle Bob ; 

 "you will not be in the way." 



The two young people followed with some eager- 

 ness, for their curiosity was now aroused. Those 

 invited to the wedding were for the most part now 

 gone home to get themselves ready for the festivity 

 usual in such cases, so that no one else noticed the 

 incident. The little group' had reached the strand, 

 when all at once the fisherman placed his open hand 

 above his eyes, so that he might see better when not 

 inconvenienced by the jays of the sun. 



"Do not know it," he muttered as if speaking to 

 himself. " It is very strange. Don't know it." 



Uncle Bob laughed in his sleeve. 



" You don't know it ! What is it, then?" he remarked. 



" Good gracious ! Do you not see yon white bark, 

 cutter-rigged, stranded below there on the sand, and 

 with a quite new flag flying at the top of the mast ? 

 I know every vessel of this coast know them all, but 

 that I don't know at all. I cannot recollect it unless 

 it is some pleasure-boat. But no, that is out of the 

 question: it is in too good a state and then it is 

 rigged for fishing." 



They went a few steps nearer, the sailor keeping 

 his eyes steadily fixed on it. Then, his surprise may 



