say anything about our--accident?" asked Mike at last.

"No: only frighten my mother."

"Nor yet about the Scraw, and what we're going to try and do?"

"No: what's the good? Let's find what there is to see first. I say,
Cinder, it will be as good as going to a foreign country seeking
adventures. Who knows what we may find?"

"Raven's nest, for one thing."

"Yes, I expect that chap has got his wife and young ones somewhere about
here. How about a rope? Have you got one at home?"

"Yes; but so have you."

"I'm not very fond of ours," said Vince thoughtfully. "It's a long time
since it was new, and we don't want to have any accidents. You bring a
coil of new rope from your boat-shed: we'll take care of it. And, I
tell you what, I'll bring that little crowbar of ours next time, and a
big hammer, so as to drive the bar into some crack. It will be better
than holding the rope."

The talk of their future plans lasted till it was nearly time to part,
and they were just arranging for their hour of meeting on the next day
when they came suddenly upon old Daygo, at the corner of the lane
leading down to his comfortable cottage.

"Art'noon," he said, with a nod, and fixing his eyes upon each of them
searchingly. "Having a walk?"

"Yes," said Vince carelessly. "When are you going to take us fishing
again?"

"Oh! one o' these fine days, my lads; but you're getting to be quite men
now, and must think more about your books. Been on the cliffs?"

"Yes," said Vince. "Come on, Mike: it's tea-time."

The boys walked on in silence for some moments, and then Vince spoke.

"I say, Mike, do you think he's watching us?"

"No," said Mike shortly. "You fancy he is, because you've got some
cock-and-bull notion that he don't want us to go to the Scraw."

"Perhaps so," said Vince thoughtfully; "but I can't help it. I do think
so."

"Well, suppose he does; he said what was right: it is a horribly
dangerous place, and all the people keep away from it because they've
got ideas like his."

"Maybe," said Vince, with his brow all in puckers. "But never mind;
we'll go and see."

CHAPTER SIX.

HAUNTED BY THE SCRAW.

The weather interfered with the prosecution of the boys' adventure for a
week, and during that time, what with wind and rain, they had nothing to
tempt them to the cliff but the sight of a large French three-masted
lugger or _chasse-maree_, which was driven by the gale and currents
dangerously near