"Oh, it's going far away!" cried Flossie; almost in tears.

The little boat was certainly making its way out into the lake, and it
sailed along so proudly, it must have been very glad to be free.

"There's Hal Bingham's boat," ventured Flossie. "Maybe I could go out
a little ways in that."

"Of course you can," promptly answered Freddie. "I can row."

"I don't know, we might upset!" Flossie said, hesitating.

"But it isn't deep. Why, Downy walks around out here," went on the
brother.

This assurance gave the little girl courage, and slipping the rope off
the peg that secured the boat to the shore, very carefully she put
Freddie on one seat, while she sat herself on the other.

The oars were so big she did not attempt to handle them, but just
depended on the boat to do its own sailing.

"Isn't this lovely!" declared Freddie, as the boat drifted quietly
along.

"Yes, but how can we get back?" asked Flossie, beginning to realize
their predicament.

"Oh, easy!" replied Freddie, who suddenly seemed to have become a man,
he was so brave. "The tide comes down pretty soon, and then our boat