over the yellow sand, but which, in a storm,
came thundering in, like huge banks of water, to smite the face of the
cliff, fall back and fret, and churn up the weed into balls of froth,
which flew up, and were carried by the wind right across the island.

"Where's old Deane?" said Vince suddenly.

"Taken a book to go and sit on the rock shelf and read Plutarch. I say,
what a lot he does know!"

"No wonder," said Vince, who was parting the heather and peering down
beneath: "he's always reading. I wish he was fonder of coming out in a
boat and fishing or sailing."

"So do I," said Mike. "We'd make him do the rowing. Makes us work hard
enough."

"I don't see why he shouldn't help us," continued Vince. "Father says a
man ought to look after his body as well as his brains, so as always to
be healthy and strong."

"Why did he say that?" said Mike sharply.

"Because it was right," said Vince. "My father's always right."

"No, he isn't. He didn't know what was the matter with my dad."

Vince laughed.

"What are you grinning at?"

"What you said. He knew well enough, only he wouldn't say because he
did not want to offend your father."

"What do you mean?"

"That he always sat indoors, and didn't take enough exercise."

"Pish! The Doctor did not know," said Mike sharply, and colouring a
little; "and I don't believe he wants people to be well."

"Hi! Look here!" cried Vince excitedly. "Lizard!"

A little green reptile, looking like a miniature crocodile, disturbed by
the lad's investigating hands, darted out from beneath the heath into
the sunshine; and Mike snatched off his cap, and dabbed it over the
little fugitive with so true an aim that as he held the cap down about
three inches of the wiry tail remained outside.

"Got him!" cried Mike triumphantly.

"Well, don't hurt it."

"Who's going to hurt it!"

"You are. Suppose a Brobdig-what-you-may-call-him banged a great cap
down over you--it would hurt, wouldn't it?"

"Not if I lay still; and there wouldn't be a bit of tail sticking out if
he did," said Mike laughing.--"I'm not going to hurt you, old chap, but
to take you home and put you in the conservatory to catch and eat the
flies and blight. Come along."

"Where are you going to put him?"

"In my pocket till I go home. Look here: I'll put my finger on his tail
and hold him while you lift my cap; then I can catch him with my other
hand."

"Mind he don't bite."

"Go along! He can