Part 7 (1/2)
But in this instance it was very dull business, for the reason that there were no sh.e.l.ls to be found. They had all become weary of groping about in the sand, when Johnny looked at the bay, and observed a boy coming towards them, rowing a boat.
”Hilloa, there!” shouted the boy.
”Hilloa!” responded Johnny. ”If that isn't Sol Rosenberg!” (This was Mandoline's brother.) ”Where you going, Sol?”
”Nowhere particular. Get in and go too?”
”Yes,” said Johnny, ”Fred Jackson and I. Fred can steer as straight's a needle. I'll paddle, you know.”
”Girls too,” added Solomon, gallantly.
With one accord the children walked eagerly towards the boat, which, by this time, Solomon had moored against the beach. All but Dotty.
”Are you old enough, Solly Rosenberg, old enough and know enough not to drown us all to pieces?”
Young Solomon laughed.
”If I can't manage a small concern like this!”
”But four, and one more, make _five_, Solly!”
”You don't say so! Well, I could carry sixteen, if they were all such little snips as you are!”
”Dot Parlin thinks she weighs as much as two tons,” said Johnny, in an irritating tone.
”I'm dreadful 'fraid,” murmured the little Jewess, shaking the wayward hair out of her magnificent eyes; ”but I'll go if you will, Dotty Dimple.”
Dotty shoved her feet into the sand and reflected.
”My mamma is afraid of the water; but then she was upset in a scursion, and that's why she's afraid.”
”What kind of thing is a _scursion_?” asked Johnny.
”A Sabbath school picnic. And she wasn't upset either, only she 'xpected to be.”
”Come on!” called Solly. ”All aboard!”
”But my mamma said it wasn't safe!”
”No, she didn't. She never saw this boat; she doesn't know whether it's safe or not.”
”Doesn't it leak a single speck, Solly Rosenberg? It looks wet.”
”Pshaw! That's where the waves come in; it's as tight as the bark to a tree.”
Dotty was becoming very eager to go. It sometimes did seem, when she really wished to do any particular thing, that she wished it more than any one else.
”But, O dear! my mamma doesn't 'low me to sail.”
This was spoken sorrowfully; but there was a little wavering in the tone. Dotty had taken the first false step; she had listened to the voice of temptation, and every persuasive word of Solly's left her weaker than it had found her.