Part 17 (2/2)

'Turfs,' replied Allan, 'and luave a little juh she were pleased

The boat was launched, and cut swiftly through the transparent water, while the new boys looked around with expectant faces

'What an awfully jolly place,' they said, as they sprang out on the beach 'Awful fun, having an island of your own to do as you like with'

'Half-an-hour allowed for gathering ammunition,' called out Marjorie

'We'll show Harry and Gerald over the place e've had our fight

We had better defend froht pull down the walls if we defended fro clods of turf, a quantity of which was piled on the roof of the hut for the defenders, while the attackers disposed theirs in little heaps at a short distance from the fort

'Now for the sea-weed,' cried Marjorie; 'nothing like getting a heap of wet tang thrown in your face when you're fighting'

The tide was far out, and quantities of wet sea-weed lay exposed on the rocks

'No stones to be taken,' said Allan, sawing through the tough, thick stalks with a large pocket-knife

'How do you like our way of playing?' asked Marjorie of Harry, as she passed hi in each hand a mass of wet sea-hich dripped down on her frock and shoes

'Awful fun,' replied the boy, his eyes sparkling with exciteh'

She swung herself nimbly on to the roof, followed by Ha in their ears, er for the fray

'It's rather storet back?'

'Of course,' said Marjorie; 'why, this is nothing! We like it to be a little stormy, it's better fun Call the others,' and they shouted for the rest of the attacking party, who ca, armed withtheir operations a to happen

'To your post, Gerald,' shouted Allan; and Geraldcaught in a rain of clods which hurtled through the air

Allan and Reggie showed great dexterity in avoiding thehad so much practice in this kind of warfare, acted the part of unwilling targets, and their neat suits were soon bespattered with mud

'All in the day's work, eh?' said Allan, as he hurried past Gerald, as so the dirt off his cheek with one hand; 'Awful fun, isn't it?'

'Awfully jolly,' assented Gerald, trying not to think that in the bottom of his heart there was a doubt

A fresh shower of sods caers and besieged; and Laddie, who had been looking on with a puzzled face and trying to make out as the aged in deadly warfare, and rushed between the opposing sides with a bark and a wagging tail, bent uponpeace

'Down, Laddie, down,' shouted Allan, as the dog ju frenziedly from one side to the other; 'trust, sir!