Page:Zodiac stories by Blanche Mary Channing.pdf/300

Rh uprisings of a brave and hardy nature, and he was soon restored to favor.

The worst piece of mischief into which he fell was the prompting of Conrad to a boating excursion in an old barrel on a deep pond in the forest. This adventure nearly cost both boys their lives. Lord Conrad, by his wilful desire to steer the odd craft,—a desire which Dolf resisted with muscular force,—overturned the barrel in mid—ocean, and only his young servitor's presence of mind and ability to swim saved him. Dolf was nearly as much at home in the water as out of it, and so managed to bring the little Duke safe to shore though Conrad's struggles made it a hard task.

Happily old Hubert was not very far away, and got them back to Wilhelmsburg with due speed.

This, the gravest of Dolf's misdoings, was also his last. He was severely punished, but his worst punishment was to have Conrad's gentle mother say,—