The Adventurous Four - - Страница 32

The other three children were full of joy. They had been so sorry for Andy when his boat had been lost, for they knew that he and his father got their living from fishing. And now Andy had a much better boat—they couldn't keep back their joy. They danced and shouted and clapped Andy on the back till the boy almost fell over.

"You must share the boat with me," said Andy, suddenly finding his tongue again. "It shall belong to all of us!"

"Well, we have to go back to school again soon," said Tom, rather sadly. "But we're to come here for holidays always, Andy—so we can share it then. Can't we go out in it now?"

Many people had come down to the beach to look at the fine new fishing-boat. Andy's father and uncle came running down—and when they heard the news they could not believe their ears!

"It's called Andy," said Tom proudly. "Isn't it a fine boat? It's because Andy was so brave and helped his country such a lot. And he's going to share k with us when we come here for our holidays."

Andy's father got into the boat and looked at it carefully. His blue eyes gleamed with joy. "Ah, Andy lad," he said, "this is a boat fit for the King himself, if he wanted to go fishing! We'll go out on the tide this evening, and do a wee bit of fishing together! And you must write to the King and his Government to thank them for their bonny present! It's most generous of them!"

Andy was not a good writer, so Tom wrote the letter for him and posted it. And then Andy, his father, and the three children all got into the fishing-boat that evening to go the first trip together.

The red sail billowed out against the sky, as the evening breeze filled it. Like a sea-bird the little boat bobbed gracefully on the water—and then raced away on the tide. The Andy was away on her first trip!

"Now don't get lost on any more adventures!" shouted the children's father, who had come down to the beach to watch. "Just go fishing now—and bring me back something for breakfast! I don't want submarines and seaplanes this time!"

Every one laughed. The sail flapped happily, and the boat sped on like a live thing towards the fishing-grounds.

"She feels a good boat, bonny and brave!" said Andy's father.

"The Andy is like her master then!" cried Tom. "For he's just the same. Good luck to the Andy, so bonny and brave—and good luck to you too, Andy!"

And there we will leave them all, scudding along in the Andy—and we'll say the same—good luck to you, Andy, and your red-sailed boat! Good luck!