he opposite direction--that is, back
towards the place they sought to examine.

"Well, that's right enough," said Vince; "it's a regular backwater, and
just what we wanted. We shall do it this time."

"Think there's any danger?" said Mike.

"Not if it keeps like this," replied Vince. "We'll go on, won't we?"

Mike nodded; and making short tacks, helped by the gentle current which
was running well inside the rocks, about which they could see the tide
surging, they by degrees approached the range of cliffs which they felt
must be the outer boundary of the little cove.

"This is grand," said Vince, as they drew nearer. "Why, it's as easy as
can be, and any one might have done it if they'd thought of coming here.
I say, isn't it deep? This is a regular channel, and I shouldn't be
surprised if it takes us straight to the way in, for it's perfectly
plain that it can't be out there. No boat could get in--big or little."

"Yes, this seems to be right," said Mike. "See any rocks?"

"Only outside, and they keep off the tide. I say, Mike, there ought to
be some good fishing here. I wonder nobody comes."

"Look!" cried Mike; "that is the ridge of rocks we can see across the
cove."

"How do you know?"

"Because it's so covered with cormorants and gulls. Then there ought to
be an opening somewhere a bit farther--"

"Look out, Mike! Starboard!--hard, or we shall be on that great snag."

As he spoke Vince seized the sail and swung it across, so as to send the
boat upon another tack, and as he did so there was a jerk which nearly
threw them overboard, a strange scraping, jarring sensation, and the
boat's head was swung round, and she was borne rapidly along once more
by the current which they had experienced before.

For the fierce race suddenly swept about the rock they had grazed,
catching the boat and treating it as if it had been a cork, leaving the
boys to devote all their energies to steering, to avoid the rocks which
studded their course.

"Just the same game over again," said Vince, "only we're about a hundred
yards nearer in, and the rocks are closer together."

Their experience of half an hour before was being repeated, but with
added perils in the shape of larger rocks, while, to make matters worse,
water was rapidly rising in the boat, one of whose planks had been
started when they struck.

Vince was seaman enough to know what to do, and, warning his companion
to keep a sharp look-out ahead, he t