only sound that broke the beautiful early morning silence was the
occasional weird laugh of the loon. It came twice and then a third
time. The sleeper stirred.

"If that thing out there cries again she will wake," said the
gentleman to himself. "I must be off before that happens. But I
_should_ like to see her eyes. What a pretty picture it is!" Once
more the loon gave its maniacal laugh and the lady started, sat bolt
upright and wide awake. Her admirer had not time to retreat but he
took his oars up and confronted her manfully. It was an awkward
moment. He apologized. The lady listened very politely. Then she
smiled.

"Most of the islands in this lake are owned by private people," she
said, "who use them during the summer months for the purpose of
camping out upon them. I should advise you, if you row about much
here, to keep to the open water, unless you wish to be seriously
handled by the fathers and mothers of families."

"Thank you very much," returned the gentleman, standing up in his
boat, "I assure you I intended no rudeness, but I have never seen so
charming a summer couch before, and I was really fascinated by the--
ah,--the picture you made. May I ask what you mean by 'camping out'?
Is it always done in this fashion?"

The lady stared "Have _you_ never camped out?"

"Never in my life," said the gentleman. "I am an Englishman, staying
at the hotel near the point for a day or two. I came out to see
something of the country."