, I don't think I will, Ladle; only I feel as if I had been
beaten."

"So do I: as sore all over as sore."

"Tchah! I don't mean that kind of beating: beaten when I meant to win
and sail right into the cove in front of the caves. I say, it wasn't
worth taking old Joe's boat for and making a hole in the bottom."

"No; and we haven't said a single word about it yet."

"Felt too tired. I don't care. He'll kick up a row, and say there's
ten times as much damage done to it as there really is, and it's next to
nothing. Five shillings would more than pay for it. I'll pay part:
I've got two-and-fourpence-halfpenny at home; but it's a bother, for I
wanted to send and buy some more fishing tackle. Mine's getting very
old."

"Well, I'll pay all," said Mike. "I've got six shillings saved up."

"No, that won't be fair," said Vince; "I want to pay as near half as I
can."

"Well, but you want to buy some hooks and lines, and I shall use those
as much as I like."

"Of course," said Vince, as Mike followed his example and let himself
sink back on the soft turf, to lie gazing up at the blue sky overhead;
"but it won't be the same. I helped poke the hole in the boat, and I
mean to pay half. I tell you what: we'll pay for the damage together,
and then you'll have enough left to pay for the fishing lines, and I can
use them."

"Well, won't that be just the same?"

"No; of course not," said Vince. "The lines will be yours, and you
won't be able to bounce about, some day when you're in an ill-temper,
and say you were obliged to pay for mending the boat."

"Very well; have it that way," said Mike.

"And we ought to go over and see the old man, and tell him what we did."

"He doesn't want any telling. He has found it out long enough ago.
There was the sail rolled up anyhow, too. I was too much fagged to put
it straight. When shall we go and see him?"

"I dunno. I don't want to move, and I don't want to have to tell him.
He'll be as savage as can be."

The boys lay perfectly still now, without speaking or moving; and the
gulls came up from below, to see what was the meaning of four legs
hanging over the cliff in a row, and then became more puzzled apparently
on finding two bodies lying there at the edge; consequently they sailed
about to and fro, with their grey backs shining as they wheeled round
and gazed inquiringly down, till one, bolder than the rest, alighted
about a dozen yards away.

"Keep your eyes sh