The
children had been in hopes that he would catch Papa, which was always
a very difficult matter, for the sailor was lighter of foot, as well
as, of course, longer in limb, than any of the children; but they saw
that Uncle John had not the slightest chance with him, and it was
Bessie who was caught in her homeward race.
Bessie was rather a good hider, and was searched for far and wide
before Sam's "I spy! I spy!" gave the signal that a bit of the
spotty cotton had been seen peeping out from under Purday's big
potato-basket in the tool-house, and the whole party flew towards
home. Bessie would not aim at Papa, for if so, she would certainly
catch no one; but she hunted down David, who was too sturdy to be a
quick runner, and who was very well pleased to be caught.
"I'll have Papa!" he said, as she captured him. "I know of such a
cunning place."
David's place proved to be in among his likenesses, the cabbages,
immediately in front of the summer-house. There he lay flat on the
very wet mould, among the stout cabbages, all of which had a bead of
wet in every wrinkle of their great leaves, so that when Susan had at
length spied him, and he came plunging out, his brown-holland--to say
nothing of his knees--was in a state that would have caused most
mammas to send him to be instantly undressed; but nobody even saw it,
and he charged instantly towards the door of the summer-house, not
pursuing anyone in particular, but cutting all off from their
retreat.
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