of the box, at its upper end, sloped inward, till they made a narrow opening.  All its other parts were eel-tight.  The eels coming down with the current which had been directed toward the entrance of the box, as has been explained, passed into it, and there they would remain.  They never had the wit to find the narrow aperture by which they had entered.  This turned out to be useful sport, for every morning the boys lifted their trap and took out a goodly number of eels; and when the squirmers were nicely dressed and browned, they proved delicious morsels.

CHAPTER XXXIX

A TRIP TO THE SEASHORE

In the comparative leisure which the children enjoyed during August, they felt amply repaid for the toil of the previous months.  We also managed to secure two great gala-days.  The first was spent in a trip to the seashore; and this was a momentous event, marred by only one slight drawback.  The “Mary Powell,” a swift steamer, touched every morning at the Maizeville Landing.  I learned that, from its wharf, in New York, another steamer started for Coney Island, and came back in time for us to return on the “Powell” at 3.30 P.M.  Thus we could secure a delightful sail down the river and bay, and also have several hours on the beach.  My wife and I talked over this little outing, and found that if we took our lunch with us, it would be inexpensive.  I saw Mr. Jones, and induced him and his wife, with Junior, to join us.  Then the children were told of our plan, and their hurrahs made the old house ring.  Now that we were in for it, we proposed no half-way measures.  Four plump spring chickens were killed and roasted, and to these were added so many ham sandwiches and hard-boiled eggs, that I declared that we were provisioned for a week.  My wife nodded at Bobsey, and said, “Wait and see!”

Whom do you think we employed to mount guard during our absence?  No other than Bagley.  Mr. Jones said that it was like asking a wolf to guard the flock, for his prejudices yielded slowly; but I felt sure that this proof of trust would do the man more good than a dozen sermons.

Indeed, he did seem wonderfully pleased with his task, and said, “Ye’ll find I’ve ’arned my dollar when ye git back.”

The children scarcely slept in their glad anticipation, and were up with the sun.  Mr. and Mrs. Jones drove down in their light wagon, while Junior joined our children in another straw-ride, packed in between the lunch-baskets.  We had ample time after reaching the landing to put our horses and vehicles in a safe place, and then we watched for the “Powell.”  Soon we saw her approaching Newtown, four miles above, then speeding toward the wharf, and rounding into it, with the ease and grace of a swan.  We scrambled aboard, smiled at by all.  I suppose we did not form, with our lunch-baskets, a very stylish group, but that was the least of our troubles.  I am satisfied that none of the elegant people we brushed against were half so happy as we were.