smile.

"Ah! I didn't see," he grumbled out. "Yes, I do look a nice sorter
youngster to have a mother to wash my face, don't I? But here, I say,"
he continued sternly, "you two didn't mean it about getting a boat and
trying to see the Scraw, did you?"

"Yes, to be sure," said Mike sharply.

"Then look here!" cried the old man, bringing his great doubled fist
down into his left palm, with the result that there was a loud crack as
of a mallet falling upon a board; "I've give you both fair warning, and
you'd better take it. You don't know what may come to you if you try
it. I tell you, once for all, that you can't get to see it from the
sea, and you can't get to see it from the shore. Nobody never has, and
nobody never can, and come back 'llve, as that there Johnny Dor'."

"I don't believe any one's had the pluck to try," said Mike stoutly.

"Ah! you're a unbelievin' young rip," growled Daygo fiercely. "But
lookye here: you don't want to upset my lady your mother, Ladle, and you
don't--"

"Look here, Joe Daygo, if you call me Ladle again I'll kick you!" cried
Mike hotly.

"Nay, don't, lad--not yet, till you've practysed a bit on the rocks,
'cause you might hurten your toes. Look here, young Physic: you don't
want to go and break your poor mother's heart, do you?"

"Of course not," said Vince.

"Then don't you go, my lad--don't you go. There--better be off, both on
you. Weather's hot, and fish won't keep. Tell 'em to put some salt in
the pot with that lobster, Ladle; and you'd better have your fish cooked
to-night, Doctor."

Vince turned round and nodded; but the ladle was sticking in Mike's
throat, and he stalked on without making a sign.

Daygo stood watching till the lads had climbed up out of his sight, and
then he went and sat down on a block of granite, and began to rasp his
nose on both sides with his rough, fishy finger, as if engaged in
sharpening the edge of a feature which was sharp enough as it was; and
as he rasped, he looked straight before him at the great rugged cliff.
But he was not thinking of it in the least; his thoughts were half a
mile away, at the most precipitous part of the coast--a spot avoided by
shore-goer and seaman alike, from the ill name it bore, and the dangers
said to attend those who ventured to go near, either climbing or in a
boat.

"Nay," he said at last; "they won't go now."

CHAPTER FOUR.

CINDER HAS DISCOVERY ON THE BRAIN.

"What are you thinking ab