But, looking carefully on the ground, he discerned innumerable tracks of little feet, some with shoes and some barefoot.

Following these tracks with his eye, he saw that they formed a beaten path towards the water-side.
"Ah, I see what the mischief is," said he, nodding his head.

"Those little rascals, the boys,--they have stolen our stones to build a wharf with!" The masons immediately went to examine the new structure.

And to say the truth, it was well worth looking at, so neatly and with such admirable skill had it been planned and finished.

The stones were put together so securely that there was no danger of their being loosened by the tide, however swiftly it might sweep along.