PEPACTON 



a special providence to the camper-out; they are 

 luxuries he has not counted on, and I prized these 

 accordingly. Later in the day it threatened rain, 

 and I drew up to shore under the shelter cf some 

 thick overhanging hemlocks, and proceeded to eat 

 my berries and milk, glad of an excuse not to delay 

 my lunch longer. While tarrying here I heard young 

 voices upstream, and looking in that direction saw 

 two boys coming down the rapids on rude floats. 

 They were racing along at a lively pace, each with 

 a pole in his hand, dexterously avoiding the rocks 

 and the breakers, and schooling themselves thus 

 early in the duties and perils of the raftsmen. As 

 they saw me one observed to the other, 



"There is the man we saw go by when we were 

 building our floats. If we had known he was com- 

 ing so far, maybe we could have got him to give 

 us a ride." 



They drew near, guided their crafts to shore 

 beside me, and tied up, their poles answering for 

 hawsers. They proved to be Johnny and Denny 

 Dwire, aged ten and twelve. They were friendly 

 boys, and though not a bit bashful were not a bit 

 impertinent. And Johnny, who did the most of 

 the talking, had such a sweet, musical voice; it was 

 like a bird's. It seems Denny had run away, a day 

 or two before, to his uncle's, five miles above, and 

 Johnny had been after him, and was bringing his 

 prisoner home on a float; and it was hard to tell 

 12 



