"Nothing the matter; but the Missisquoi has concluded not to come any farther in this direction just now," replied Dory, as he headed the schooner to the north-west.
"She has stopped!" exclaimed Thad.
"That is just what she has done," added the skipper.
"What has she stopped there for?" asked Corny.
"She couldn't very well help it, for she is hugging the bottom."
"Hugging the bottom! What do you mean by that?" demanded Corny.
"In plain English, she is aground." And the skipper proceeded to explain the situation to his companions.
"Then, you knew what you were about all the time, Dory," said Thad, with something of admiration in his tones and manner.
"I thought I did all the time; but I did not expect the Missisquoi would try to go over a place where the bottom is so near the top as it is on this shoal," answered Dory. "There is nearly seven miles of deep water to the eastward of this shoal to the head of Mallett's Bay. The lake is thirteen miles wide on just this line."
"Were you going up Mallett's Bay?"