write a
note to Mr Mudge, and get him to take it up."

"A bright idea," I observed; and taking out my pocket-book, I wrote a
few words, explaining the plan we proposed.

Pullingo at once understood that he was to carry up the bit of paper,
and did not appear to hesitate about ascending the rope. I remained
with Edith and Pierce, while Paddy went back with the black. He soon
returned to the cave, when he told me that Pullingo had, without
hesitation or the slightest appearance of fear, grasped the rope and
begun the ascent, showing as much activity as a monkey, or, as he
observed, as if he had been born and bred at sea. He watched him till
he had climbed safely over the top of the cliff; when a shout from above
told him that my note had been received.

We now sat down, watching the tide, which was still flowing.

"What if it should rise higher than it did yesterday?" I observed; "we
should be somewhat cramped for space."

"I don't think Pullingo would have left us here if he thought that was
going to happen," said Doyle; "he knows all about it. He is a wonderful
fellow; how he came to find out that the children were here, is more
than I can tell."

"We saw his son as we came along yesterday, and perhaps he guessed where
we had gone," said Pierce, thus accounting for the black knowing where
to find the children.

Still, I did not feel altogether comfortable as I saw the tide rising
higher and higher, and I began to consider that, after all, it might
have been better to have tried to go up by the rope.

Edith sat quite calmly. "I am very sure that it will not come higher
than that," she said, placing a stone on the ground.

"And why do you think so?" I asked.

"Because God rules the waves. He can stop them just where he wills,"
she answered with perfect calmness.

She was right; the water came only a little higher than the stone, and
then began to recede.

The children had brought an ample store for their picnic, and had thus
enough food to prevent them suffering much from hunger. They wanted
Paddy and me to take some, but of course we would not touch it, though I
confess that by this time I was somewhat hungry.

At length, greatly to my satisfaction, I caught sight of the boat
pulling with four oars rapidly towards us. Feeling her way, she got
within twenty yards of where we were. Burton, who was in her, tucking
up his trousers waded on shore, and taking up Edith carried her on
board; while Pa