ut, and they wisely kept close down to the water, so that
the returning sea might obliterate their footsteps.

Jack proposed returning to Captain Turgot's, but Bill observed that that
would not be fair to their friends, who would, of course, be exposed to
great danger by again harbouring them, and who yet would not like to
deliver them up.

"No, no, we must not do that," he said. "The sooner we can find a place
to hide in the better. The cliff hereabouts appears to be broken, and
full of hollows, and perhaps, if we search for it, we shall discover
some spot fit for our purpose."

While they were talking the moon rose; and, though on the decrease,
afforded a good deal of light, and greatly assisted them in their
search.

The sea where they were would, they saw, at high tide, completely cover
the whole beach, so they must take care to find a place beyond its
reach.

They anxiously searched about. The night was drawing on, and they must
find concealment before daylight, which would expose them to the view of
any boats passing near the beach, or to people looking for them from the
cliffs above.

They climbed up at several places without discovering any hollow
sufficiently deep to conceal them effectually; still they persevered,
and at last they reached a black rock which projected out from the
cliff, and ran some way down the beach. From its appearance they saw
that it must be covered at high-water. They made their way round it, as
the sides were too smooth to climb over, and then once more reached the
foot of the cliff.

The tide was now rising rapidly, and they saw that they would be exposed
to the danger of being caught by the sea, could they not get some
distance up the cliff. They were hurrying on when Bill exclaimed--

"There's a cave, and it may perhaps run some way back in the cliff. We
shall soon find out by the feel of the rock whether the water fills it
up, and if not, we couldn't have a better hiding-place."

They climbed up the slippery rock, and found themselves in a cavern with
a low arched entrance. This looked promising. They groped their way
onwards. As they advanced, their ears caught the gentle sound of a tiny
streamlet, which issued from the rock, while the ground beneath their
feet was perfectly dry, consisting in some places of hard rock, in
others of soft, warm sand.

Looking back, they could distinguish the ocean, with the moonlight
shining on it.

"We shall be safe here, I