THE LONG TRAIL 



middle with all of us grouped around the 

 edge of the float. He began by telling 

 each of us what part of the coach we were ; 

 one would be a wheel, another the whip, 

 and so on. Then Father would tell a story 

 about the coach. Each child had to jump 

 into the water when the part he repre- 

 sented was mentioned, and everyone 

 jumped in when the word "stagecoach" 

 was used. Those who were slow to jump 

 or failed to notice when their part oc- 

 curred had to pay forfeits, which were de- 

 cided on after the play ended, which was 

 always brought about by the "stagecoach" 

 striking a rock on its way down a steep 

 hill and falling all to pieces amid confu- 

 sion and plunging into the bay. 



Father cared for neither sailing nor 

 fishing, and, although we lived always be- 

 side the water, and our cousins and play- 

 mates were keen sailors and fishermen, 

 16 



