Page:Cornelia Meigs--The island of Appledore.djvu/39

Rh to say so. Next, they went down to the pier to see, “the biggest big fish you ever saw, that  my father brought in last night.”

This, Billy felt, was more worth showing him than were mere ducklings, but he did not  admit being impressed by the size of the fish,  although in truth it was a monster, nearly as  long as the dory that held it. He stood passing his hand over the slippery surface of its silver scales and listening to the thrilling tale  of its capture, recounted by Sally with as much  spirit as though she herself had been present. She broke off in the middle of her story, however, to exclaim:

“Gracious, I’m keeping you here until maybe the tide will be over the causeway and  you can’t get back. That would never do!”

They hurried up to the house, gathered the berry boxes together in haste, and went toward the gate.

“I’ll not forgive myself if I have made you miss the tide,” Sally said. “I think I will walk with you as far as the creek to make  sure.”

She chattered continuously as they went down the wooded lane, telling him what the  different flowers and birds were, what games