How the Fort was Stormed and the Flag Lost.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue X, 8 September 1900, Page 471

How the Fort was Stormed and the Flag Lost.

A COMPLETE STORY. Down by the edge of the sea the little waves were dancing in the sunshine, and as the tide went out further and further and further, it left fascinating little pools of water behind it among the rocks, with red and blue anemones and hermit crabs under the seaweed. The Sefton children thought there never was sueh a lovely place before, for they lived in a smoky Midland town, and it was their very first visit to the sea. “When I am big 1 shall be’a eoastguardsman, and come and live in that cottage by the lighthouse!’ proclaimed Claude, as lie vigorously dug the foundations for a big fort in the soft, damp sand. But Enid wouldn’t agree. “I would much rather live in the lighthouse itself. It would be suchfun to hear the waves dashing up the

rocks in winter time, and to keep the lamp alight.” “I will come, too." chimed in Merle: for she and Enid were twins, and though Enid had very decided ideas of her own. Merle had none, and was always an echo of her sister. “And Jack shall be a sailor, and his ship shall be wrecked on the rock, and we can save him in the lifeboat.”

But Jack loudly protested at this. He meant to be a soldier, because he was always seasick on the sea. “Well, you can be wrecked just the same, liecanse your regiment will lie on its way to India, and Enid will forget to light her light, and you can go to pieces on the rocks. just as well as if you were a sailor." “As if 1 should forget to light my light! It's much more likely you would be afraid to go out in the lifeboat if it was the least bit rough.” And in another minute there would have been a quarrel. if nurse and Paddy and the baby had not come down from the cliff above on to the sands. Paddy with his new bliie-and-white Hag that Unde Stephen had given him the week before, and that, he loved so much that he always took it to bed with him. “I say, that's just what I want to make iny fort perfect! And then

we'll pretend it's held by the Indians, and we will attack it on all sides at once! 1 say. Paddy, will you lend us your Hags?"

"Will it wave over the fort? My Hag will like that." And Paddy, who was a most goodnatured soul, ran up with the beloved Hag. and gave it up to Claude. “It won't get hurt, will it?” "Of course not! How can it?" And the next minute it was waving proudly over the ramparts.

“You take the left side, and I will take the right, and we will all storm at once; ami the ones who get on the top first will be the conquerors."

And then began such a shouting and pelting with sand, that Teddy danced with delight from his place by the baby's maileart. Twice the fort was taken, and twice it had to be given up. And then nurse said it was time for the little ones' tea. and they must go in. “Baby is tired out, so come along Master Teddy, like a good boy."

"But my dear flag!” objected Teddy very loudly. “It must go home to tea as well!”

“Oh. no. it mustn’t! It will spoil all our fun if it goes. Leave it. and we will bring it back quite soon. It can't be hurt, you know." So Teddy had to consent; but he gave many a backward, wistful look at it as his short, fat legs toiled after nurse up the path through the heather. , “Let's go and hide round the rocks, and then all rush out on the fort together. And we will take spades and tear it to pieces after, as it's so close to teatime, and there are to be cream buns to-night. I heard mother order them.” The rocks were a little distance off, and when Claude gave the signal for the storming, everyone was tired and wanted a rest. “Let’s catch crabs in the pools instead for a tome; only we ought to fetch the flag away.” “As if any harm could come to it!” So the crabs were caught. And then everyone was eager to go back to the fort for a final play.

But what had happened? The flag had gone! And who was to tell Teddy? “If we had only let him take it!” Enid wailed. “He will be in sueh a way!” And so he was, and cried himself to sleep for two whole nights; and though Claude offered to buy him a new one, he would not have it, and only cried the more. “It was the nicest flag 1 ever saw!” he cried. And nothing would comfort him in the least. (The End.)