By the island in the river,”
she quoted dreamily.
“I’ve heard the ‘Tirra lirra by the river,’ but it wasn’t Sir Lancelot,” Joanne responded; “it was the canal boatman sounding his horn at night for the lock to be opened, but it was very weird and romantic for all that, and I love to hear it.”
The boat continued on its slow way. At the Great Falls the girls would fain have halted, but Mr. Dawson shook his head. “Ain’t no time to stop if we want to get in before nightfall. Never can tell how many boats there are ahead of us nor how long we may be held up at the locks.”
The girls huddled back to their places. “Oh, dear,” sighed Joanne, “I did want so much to see the Falls.”
“They’re well worth seeing,” said Miss Dodge. “If they were in Europe or in some more enterprising locality they would be advertised far and wide and people would flock to see them. As it is half the people who come to Washington never have heard of them. Never mind, Joanne, we’ll take a lunch and come up on a picnic some day, then we’ll have more time. You will want more than a glimpse.”
This pleasant prospect more than satisfied Joanne, and she gave herself up to the enjoyment of the moment. Lunch was eaten, songs were sung, shadows began to lengthen. It was sometimes tedious waiting at the locks, but finally Mr. Dawson announced that they had gone through the last. They were passing towering crags by this time, and could hear the roar of rapids further on. Great holes in the jutting rocks suggested the lairs of wild creatures. From the depths of the woods and from the copses near by birds were singing. Presently a turn in the canal brought to view the little lodge snuggled down at the foot of a rock-strewn hill.
Joanne sprang to her feet. “There it is! There it is!” she cried, and every girl gazed in the direction she indicated. “We go right by to the lock,” she continued, “and will have to walk back, but it isn’t far.”
“We shall be glad of the walk,” declared Miss Dodge, “for we have been sitting still so long.”
The girls were now all excitement which was redoubled when Joanne again cried out: “There’s Unc’ Aaron and Pablo; they have come to meet us.”