The Further Adventures of Quincy Adams Sawyer and Masons Corner Folks | Page 9

of the House arose, and amid wild cheers,
pledged him their support.
The Hon. Nathaniel Adams Sawyer's estate at Redford comprised some
eighty acres. Within five minutes' walk of the house was a sheet of
water covering fully fifty acres known as Simmons' Pond. On the
farther side of the pond were a few cottages and near them a tent
indicating the presence of a camping party.
"Next year," said the Hon. Nathaniel to Quincy as they stood on the
shore of the pond, "I am going to buy some twenty acres on the other
side of the pond. Then I shall own all the land surrounding it, and my
estate will be worthy of the name which I have given it--Wideview--
for nobody's else property will obstruct my view in any direction. I
shall name this," and he pointed to the pond, "Florence Lake after my

eldest daughter. What do you think of Captain Hornaby?"
Quincy hesitated--"He's a typical Englishman--healthy, hearty, but with
that English conceit that always grates on my nerves."
"Are we Americans free from it?" his father asked. "To my mind,
conceit is often but the indication of self-conscious power. Its
possessors never acknowledge defeat I have always had that feeling in
my law practice."
Quincy changed the subject, "What have you in the boat house?"
"Canoes--three canoes. I have ordered a large row-boat but it is not
ready yet. When I own the 'lake' and the land beyond, my residence
will stand in the centre of my estate. I shall retire from practice in a few
years, and spend my last days here. We all have to go back to the soil
and I am going to make my progress gradual."
"Won't you find it rather dull here after so long an active life in the
city?"
"Not dull, but quiet," was the dignified response. "I shall pass my time
surveying the beauties of Nature to which, to my discredit, I have been
so long oblivious; then, I shall commune with the great minds in
literature, and read the latest law reports."
Quincy wondered whether Nature, literature, or law would be his
father's most appreciated relaxation, but inclined to the latter.
The next morning Maude exclaimed: "Let's have some fun. What shall
we do?"
"There are three canoes in the boat house," said Quincy, "why not a
row on the pond?"
"Fine!" cried Maude. "Quincy, you are a man of ideas."
Captain Hornaby had asked Florence to go with him and she had
willingly consented. This emboldened Harry Merry, who had come

down from the State House with the Governor's correspondence, and he,
rather bashfully, requested Maude's company in the third canoe.
"Can you swim?" she asked.
"I learned when a boy," said Harry.
"All right. I don't believe the style has changed much since then. I
wouldn't go with you unless you could swim. It would be too great a
responsibility."
Harry thought to himself that he would be willing to swim ashore with
such a "responsibility" in his arms.
Maude turned to the Captain: "Can you swim, Captain Hornaby?"
"Of course, Miss Maude. We Englishmen are all sea dogs, don't you
know?"
"But Englishmen are drowned sometimes," said Maude. "How about
Admiral Kempenfelt and the Royal George? See Fourth Class Reader
for full particulars in verse."
The three couples were soon afloat--Quincy and Alice, Captain
Hornaby and Florence, Harry and Maude.
"Let's have a race," cried Maude. "To that big white rock down there,"
and she pointed to the farther end of the pond. Harry took the lead with
short, swift strokes, but the long, steady paddling of Captain Hornaby
gained on him steadily, and to Maude's disgust the Captain reached the
rock first, Harry being a close second, and Quincy a late third.
Maude was excited. "Let's race back to the boat house. A prize for the
first one who reaches it."
"What will be the prize?" asked the Captain.
Maude saw that Harry needed encouragement.

"I haven't anything with me but kisses and only one of them to spare."
Harry shut his teeth with a snap. He was going to win that race.
As they were nearing the boat house Harry was in the lead, the Captain
close behind, with Quincy following leisurely. This was a young
people's race--married men barred. For some unexplainable reason
Captain Hornaby tried to cross Harry's bow. The project was ill-timed
and unsuccessful. Harry had just made a spurt and his canoe went
forward so fast that the Captain's boat, instead of clearing his, struck it
full in the side and Harry and Maude were thrown into the water.
Florence, who really loved her sister despite their many quarrels, gave a
loud scream and stood up in the boat. Her action was fatal to its
equilibrium, and the Captain