"You will spin yarns for us, Willis, will you not?"
"Well, my lads, if you want a sleeping dose, I will undertake to do that."
"But there are objections to this arrangement," Mrs. Becker hastily added.
"What are they, mother?"
"In the first place, a storm might arise some fine night—one of those dreadful hurricanes that continue several days, like the one that terrified us so much lately—and then all communication would be cut off between us."
"You could always see one another."
"How so, Willis?"
"From a distance—with the telescope."
"Then," continued Mrs. Becker, "you would be a prey to famine, for though the telescope, good Master Willis, might enable you to see our dinner—from a distance—I doubt whether that would prevent you dying of starvation."
"We might easily guard against that, by taking over a sufficient quantity of provisions with us every night, and bringing them back next morning."