the noon sun
Half a mile below , the river rounded a woody point , and the drifting bateau was hidden from the sight of any one who might have hurried to recover it . At the moment , Mandy Ann was not frightened . Her blue eyes danced with excitement as she tossed back her tousled curls . The river , flowing swiftly but smoothly , flashed and rippled in the noon sun in a friendly fashion , and it was most interesting to see how fast the shores slipped by . There was no suggestion of danger ; and probably , at the back of her little brain , Mandy Ann felt that the beautiful river , which she had always loved and never been allowed to play with , would bring her back to her Granny as gently and unexpectedly as it had carried her away . Meanwhile , she felt only the thrilling and utterly novel excitement of the situation . As the bateau swung in an occasional oily eddy she laughed gaily at the motion , and felt as proud as if she were doing it herself .