48 THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



" I found one this morning with four eggs in it, but they are 

 hard sat." 



" Ne.ver mind that, we can blow them, if you will show us 

 where it is." 



" Get out of the boat, then, and come into this rond ; but 

 mind how you walk. Put your foot on the roots of the reeds, 

 or you will go up to your middle in mud" directly." 



The nest was made of coarse grass, and was placed in a 

 clump of sedges. It contained four eggs of an olive-green 

 colour, spotted with brown. As the man said that if they did 

 not take them he should, and sell them for what they would 

 fetch, the boys felt no hesitation in plundering the nest of all its 

 contents, giving the man a gratuity of a shilling for showing 

 the nest to them. 



This commercial transaction completed, they returned to 

 their yacht and made a second breakfast. 



They had arranged to meet their elders at Wroxham Bridge 

 at twelve o'clock, and spend the rest of the day sailing and 

 pic-nicking on the Broad, so about ten o'clock they started. 

 The breeze was light, as it generally is in the summer ; and as for 

 a portion of the way they had to beat to windward in a rather 

 narrow channel, it took them some time to reach Wroxham. 



They found that the Swan was not so handy in tacking 

 as a single-hulled yacht would have been, and they had to use 

 the mizen to swing her round each time they put about. 

 Their progress was, therefore, slower than they had calculated 

 upon, and they did not reach Wroxham until 12.30. Their 

 way was past Ranworth Broad and the two Hovetons, besides 

 some smaller broads, all connected with the river by dykes, 

 half hidden by tall reeds, and looking deliciously lonely, and 

 inviting exploration. Although they were so close they could 

 see nothing of the broads' surface, and their existence was 

 only made manifest to them by the white sails of yachts which 

 were now and then to be seen gliding hither and thither through 

 forests of reeds. 



Sir Richard, Mr. and Mrs. Merivale, Mrs. Brett, Mary and 

 Florrie, were all waiting for them on the staithe by the bridge, 

 and hailed their appearance with joy. 



" Well, boys, we thought you were lost," said Mr. Merivale. 



" No fear, father," answered Frank ; " the Swan sails 

 grandly, and we have had no end of fun.". 



