'What?' said some of the girls.
'A dead dog, I believe,' said Rupert.
'Oh! let me see,' cried Harriet, advancing cautiously over the morass.
'Are you curious in such matters. Miss Hazleby?' said Rupert, laughing, as Harriet came splashing towards him through the wet, holding up her frock with one hand, and stretching out the other to him, to be helped upon the island. He pulled her upon it safely, but it quaked fearfully; and there was hardly room for them both to stand on it, while Harriet, holding fast by Rupert's hand, bent forwards, beheld the object of her curiosity, uttered a loud scream, lost her balance, and would have fallen into the river had she not been withheld by Rupert's strength of arm. They both slipped down on the opposite sides of the island, into the black mud, and Harriet precipitately retreated to the mainland.
'Well, what is the matter?' said Elizabeth.
'Oh! my poor dear little doggie!' cried Harriet.
'Is it Fido?' said Elizabeth; 'then, Harriet, there is no fear of your eating him in a sausage; you may be at rest on that score.'
'But can it really be Fido?' said Katherine, pressing forwards.
'Do you wish to see?' said Rupert, 'for if so, I advise you to make haste, the island is sinking fast.'
'I am splashed all over, so I do not care. Can I have one more look?' said Harriet, in a melancholy voice.