Martin looked up at the sun and then down to the shadows on the ground.
"No," said he, "it is not more than half past three. I am in the habit of telling time by the sun, and I know it is not later than that. Come, Bessie, three to one is the way the case stands. I guess you will be home time enough."
Bessie stood irresolute. She wished to go fishing, and she wished to return home. It was hard to choose. At last she said,
"It will be four at least when I get back. I must go."
"Then you break up the party," said Nelly, in a dissatisfied tone.
"And you spoil the pleasure," added Dolly, leaning on her stick and looking at Bessie.
"And you send us all home with empty baskets when we might each have a string of fish," continued Martin. "Do stay!"
The children surrounded Bessie, and tried to persuade her. At length she ceased to resist. She endeavored to assure herself that she was acting right, but she felt uneasy as she did so, and the picture of her mother, lying so long alone in her sick room, rose up to her mind. Still the temptation was before her, and she yielded to it. The truth was, that Bessie had great confidence in Martin, and when he said that he thought there was plenty of time, she reasoned with herself that he was a great deal older than she was, and probably knew best; so she consented to join the fishing party. The moment she said "yes," Martin exclaimed,
"This way then; follow me, all of you, and we will soon reach the short-cut track. It is about here somewhere. Let us hurry so as to lose no time."