"I hope we shan't meet a bull," said Cicely, looking nervously at a group of cattle in the distance.
"Oh, come along! You're surely not afraid of cows!"
They had soon crossed the field and reached the shade of the willows by the water's edge. The low bank was covered with reeds and rushes. Tall purple flowers were growing on a green, boggy island close by. It was a very pleasant place, just the kind of spot to choose on a hot summer's afternoon.
"Far nicer than the garden, because we have it all to ourselves," declared Cicely.
"Oh, look what I've found!" exclaimed Lindsay ecstatically.
She had been poking about among the reeds, and now pointed in triumph under the branches of a big willow to a smooth little pool, where there actually floated a punt, anchored by a long chain to the trunk of the tree.
It was a most attractive-looking boat, nicely polished, and with the name Heatherbell painted in neat white letters on the prow. It came quite easily to the edge of the bank when Lindsay pulled the chain, and seemed deliberately to invite them to step into it. Such a temptation was not to be resisted. In a moment they were both inside.
"If I can manage to untie it, I'm sure I could punt us out on to the river," said Lindsay.
"Oh, do! And then perhaps we could find some water-lilies," agreed her ever-willing friend.
Lindsay leaned over to reach the chain. It was wound tightly round the tree, and was very difficult to unfasten.