"We're coming to a place, in a minute, that Genevieve and I like a lot.
If you want, we can land there and get a dandy drink of water from a
spring near the shore." Doris was flattered beyond words to be taken
further into the confidence of this strange new acquaintance, and
heartily assented. Around a bend of the river, they approached a point
of land projecting out several hundred feet into the tide, its end
terminating in a long, golden sandbar. Toward the shore, the land gently
ascended in a pretty slope, crowned with velvety pines and cedars. The
conformation of slope and trees gave the outjut of land a curious shape.
"Do you know what I call this point?" questioned Sally. Doris shook her
head. "Well, you see what a queer shape it is when you look at it from
the side. I've named it 'Slipper Point.' Doesn't it look like a
slipper?"
"It certainly does," agreed Doris enthusiastically. "Why, you're a
wonder at naming things, Sally." Her companion colored with pleasure,
and beached the boat sharply on the sandbar. The three got out, put the
anchor in the sand and clambered up the piny slope. At the top, the view
up and down the river was enchanting, and the three sat down on the pine
needles to regain their breath and rest. At length Sally suggested that
they find the spring, and she led the way down the opposite side of the
slope to a spot near the shore. Here, in a bower of branches, almost
hidden from sight, a sparkling spring trickled down from a small cave of
reddish clay, filled an old, moss-covered box, and rambled on down the
sand into the river. Sally unearthed an old china cup from some hidden
recess of her own, and Doris drank the most delicious water she had ever
tasted.
But while Sally was drinking and giving Genevieve a share, Doris glanced
at the little gold wrist-watch she wore.
"Gracious sakes!" she exclaimed. "It's nearly five o'clock and Mother'll
begin to think I've tumbled into the river and drowned. She's always
sure I'm going to do that some time. We must hurry back."
"All right," said Sally. "Jump into the boat and I'll have you home in a
jiffy." They raced back to the boat, clambered into their former places,
and were soon shooting down the river under the impetus of the tide and
Sally's muscular strokes. The candy was by now all consumed. Genevieve
cuddled down close to Doris, her thumb once more in her mouth, and went
peacefully to sleep. The two other girls talked at intervals, but Sally
was too busy pulling to waste much breath in conversation.
"I'll land you right at the hotel dock," she remarked, when at last they
had come within sight of it. "Don't worry about your canoe. I'll bring
that up myself, right after supper, and walk back."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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