"Oh, I know what we can do!" exclaimed Russ, who was carrying the boat.
"What?" asked his brother.
"We can take the dolls—those Rose and Vi have—and give 'em a ride on the boat."
"Give Rose and Vi a ride on the boat?" asked Laddie, who had not been listening very closely. "It isn't big enough."
"'Course 'tisn't!" agreed Russ. "I don't mean that. I mean give the dolls a ride."
"Oh, yes, we can do that!" cried Laddie. "It'll be fun! Will you let us?" he called to the two little girls.
"Let you what?" asked Rose.
"Let us give your dolls a ride on the boat?"
Russ had taken a board, whittled one end sharp, like the prow, or bow, of a boat, and had rounded the other end for the stern. In the middle he had bored a hole and stuck in this a stick for a mast. On the mast he had tied a bit of cloth for a sail. And when the boat was put in the shallow water of the lake, near shore, the wind blew it along nicely.
"Oh, yes! Let's give our dolls a ride!" cried Vi.