7. Andrew was a Scotch boy, and a fine fellow. He was next to the head of
his school, and he was as good at play as he was at his book.
8. Jenny Murdock, his most particular friend, was a little girl who lived
very near Andrew's home. She had no brothers or sisters, but Andrew had
always been as good as a brother to her; and, therefore, when she stood by
the water's edge that morning, just ready to burst into tears, she thought
all her troubles over when she saw Andrew coming along the road.
9. He had always helped her out of her troubles before, and she saw no
reason why he should not do it now. She had crossed the creek in search of
wild flowers, and when she wished to return had found the bridge removed,
as Andrew supposed, by old Donald McKensie, who pastured his cows on this
side of the creek.
10. This stream was not very wide, nor very deep at its
edges, but the center it was four or five feet deep; and in the
spring the water ran very swiftly, so that wading across it,
either by cattle or men, was quite a difficult undertaking. As
for Jenny, she could not get across at all without a bridge,
and there was none nearer than the wagon bridge, a mile and
a half below.