Page:Cornelia Meigs--The island of Appledore.djvu/32

16 “I’ll pick them and take them to her, if you will tell me the way,” Billy assured him. “Don’t say no; I would really like to.”

The boxes filled rapidly, to the accompaniment of much earnest talk between Billy and his new friend. He learned how little to be relied upon was Jacky Shute, the Captain’s  assistant gardener; what an unusual number  of summer visitors on the Island there were,  owing to the war in Europe and the impossibility of people’s going abroad; what a cold, windy spring it had been, very bad for vegetables and for the poppies that were the pride  of Appledore gardens but—

“Great for sailing,” the old man concluded wistfully.

When the berries were ready, the Captain came with Billy to the edge of the garden to  show him the way. Beyond the point, on its western shore-line, was a stretch of curving  beach, cut into a deep harbour by the mouth  of a little stream.

“You cross that meadow above the rocks,” the Captain directed, “and go straight on  down to the creek. You will find a row of stepping stones that makes almost a bridge;  the tide is nearly dead low so it will certainly