There was a moment’s pause after Miss Anne had said these words; and then, an instant afterwards, the whole party came suddenly out of the woods; and the mill, with a bridge near it, crossing the stream, came into view.
“O, there is a bridge,” said Lucy; “let us go over that bridge.”
“Well,” said Royal, “so we will.”
They walked on towards the bridge; but, just before they got to it, Royal observed that there were ledges of rocks below the bridge, running out into the water; and he said that he should rather go down upon those rocks.
Miss Anne said that she should like to go down there too, very much, if she thought it was safe; and she concluded to go down, slowly and carefully, and see. They found that, by exercising great caution, they could advance farther than they had supposed. Sometimes Royal, who was pretty strong, helped Miss Anne and Lucy down a steep place; and sometimes they had to step over a narrow portion of the torrent. They found themselves at last all seated safely upon the margin of a rocky island, in the middle of the stream, with the water foaming, and roaring, and shooting swiftly by, all around them.
“There,” said Royal, “isn’t this a good place?”
“Yes,” said Lucy; “I never saw the water run so much before.”
“Children,” said Miss Anne, “look down there!”
“Where?” said Royal.
“There, upon the bank, under the trees, down on that side of the stream,—a little below that large, white rock.”