“We are Robinson Crusoe and his man Friday going to see if the savages have come,” she said presently, for her fancy was full of the dear old stories that all children love so well. “And there they are! Two tents and two boats, as I live! These rascals mean to enjoy themselves, that's evident.” “There ought to be more boats and no tents. I wonder where the prisoners are?” “There are traces of them,” and Dr. Alec pointed to the heads and tails of fishes strewn on the grass. “And there are more,” said Rose, laughing, as she pointed to a scarlet heap of what looked like lobsters. “The savages are probably eating their victims now; don't you hear the knives rattle in that tent?” “We ought to creep up and peep; Crusoe was cautious, you know, and Friday scared out of his wits,” added Rose, still keeping up the joke. “But this Crusoe is going to pounce upon them, regardless of consequences. If I am killed and eaten, you seize the basket and run for the boat; there are provisions enough for your voyage home.” With that Uncle Alec slipped round to the front of the tent and, casting in the big bundle like a bomb-shell, roared out, in a voice of thunder, “Pirates, surrender!” A crash, a shout, a laugh, and out came the savages, brandishing knives and forks, chicken bones, and tin mugs, and all fell upon the intruder, pommelling him unmercifully as they cried, “You came too soon! We are not half ready! You've spoilt it all! Where is Rose?” “Here I am,” answered a half-stifled voice, and Rose was discovered sitting on the pile of red flannel bathing clothes, which she had mistaken for lobsters, and where she had fallen in a fit of merriment when she discovered that the cannibals were her merry cousins. “You good-for-nothing boys! You are always bursting out upon me in some ridiculous way, and I always get taken in because I'm not used to such pranks. Uncle is as bad as the rest, and it's great fun,” she said, as the lads came round her, half scolding, half welcoming, and wholly enjoying the double surprise. “You were not to come till afternoon, and mamma was to be here to receive you. Everything is in a mess now, except your tent; we got that in order the first thing, and you can sit there and see us work,” said Archie, doing the honours as usual. “Rose felt it in her bones, as Dolly says, that something was in the wind, and wanted to be off at once. So I let her come, and should have kept her away an hour longer if your fish had not betrayed you,” explained Uncle Alec, subsiding from a ferocious Crusoe into his good-natured self again. “As this seat is rather damp, I think I'll rise,” said Rose, as the excitement lessened a little. Several fishy hands helped her up, and Charlie said, as he scattered the scarlet garments over the grass with an oar,