"I'll go out for an hour in her," he thought. He hastened across the field, and in a few moments was going down the slope of the shore.
It was not a clear night, for clouds swept up from the south and hastened over the sky, so that the stars shone out only intermittently in the deep blue-black of the heavens. This was a wind to drive the Vireo at a fine pace over the bay.
Lawrence was impatient to be off. As he unfastened the rope from the post on the wharf, something came pell-mell down the beach, clattering over the shingle and up to his side.
"Oh, I say!" cried Leander, "is that you? I didn't know but it was some scamp goin' to steal the Vireo."
"Did you think you could help it?" asked Lawrence, as he flung down the rope.
"You bet. Goin' out?"
"Yes. Why aren't you in bed?"
"Bed? Ain't you green? Guess I'll go with you." And Leander prepared to clamber on board.
But Lawrence was not in a mood to hear the boy's chatter. He reached forward and took hold of Lee's jacket collar, lifting him back on to the wharf.
"I'd rather be alone," he explained; "and Aunt Tishy'd be sure to worry about you."