"And we can take Fairbairn," said Maggie; "and we had better, for there will be the baskets to carry." "Nonsense--I can carry baskets," said Meredith; "and get wood, and all that." "I think we can do without Fairbairn," said Mr. Murray. "I like the plan. It is just the day for it. If it only turn out to be just the time of tide also!"-- "We'll soon see about that," cried the boys. There was a rush and a whoop and a race to the boat-house, and then a more leisurely return. "It's all right," said Meredith. "Couldn't be better. It is half-past eight now, and the tide just beginning to turn. It will be running down till two o'clock--and just give us a nice current home." "And a good pull, too," said Ponton. "_That's_ all right, old boy. Come! don't you pull backwards. Now, how soon can we be ready?" "Just as soon as we can get our lunch ready, and the things," said Maggie. "You might pack the things, Ditto, and get them into the boat, while we see about lunch." "What are 'things'?" "Why, cups and saucers, and tea-kettle, and matches and plates, and paper to light the fire, and everything, you know." "Go off," said Mr. Murray, "and see about victualling the ship. I can manage the cups and saucers." So Maggie and Esther ran to consult Betsey, who now held a nondescript position of usefulness in the family, and was acting cook while Mrs. Candlish was away--cook proper being absent on leave. "O Betsey! we are going out, to be gone all day; and now, what can we have for lunch?" "Lunch, Miss Maggie!"-- "Yes, and you know we want a good deal. There are six of us." "You know, it's Monday." "Well, what of it?" "There h'aint so much as if t'was any other day. You see, yesterday it was Sunday." "Oh well! what have we got, Betsey? I know you have got something." "There's bread, Miss h'Esther." "We want more than bread. And butter, and tea and coffee and all that. We must have something more, Betsey. What _have_ you got?" "The chickens is nothing left of 'em; and that 'am bone h'aint got much on it. I do think, Miss Maggie, ye consume a great deal in the woods!" "Of course we do. And we want a good, hearty lunch to-day, because the boys and Uncle Eden will have a long way to row. Come, Betsey, make haste." "There h'aint a living thing in the 'ouse, but h'oysters, and h'eggs, and potatoes. That is, nothing cooked. And ye want dressed meat." "Oysters?" said Maggie doubtfully. "Capital," said Esther. "And sweet potatoes. We can bake them in the ashes. And eggs are good. Meredith will make us another friar's omelet." "There's nothing else for ye," said Betsey, summing up. So Fairbairn carried a great bag of oysters down to the boat, and a basket with the potatoes and eggs, and the kettle, and a pail to fetch water in. And into other baskets went everything else that everybody could think of as possibly wanting from the house. Affghan and worsted, finally, and the merry party themselves.