in the right
direction, and they went to the cliffs.

The precipices were very high, and the swell of the sea dashed and
roared against them at their foot; and yet the water looked very smooth
at a little distance from the land. Rollo wondered why there should be
waves along the beach and against the rocks, when there were none out in
the open sea.

"I should think, father," said he, "that it would be calmer near the
shore, and more windy out upon the water."

"It is," said his father.

"Then, why are not the waves bigger?"

"They _are_ full as big."

"Why, father," said Rollo, "there are no waves at all out from the
land."

"You can't see them very well," said his father, "because we look down
upon them. When we are upon a mountain, the small hills below almost
disappear. Besides, the waves out in the open sea, in such a still time
as this, are in the form of broad swells; but these swells are broken
when they roll against the shore, and so this makes the surf."

"I mean to look over and see," said Rollo, and he walked cautiously
along towards the precipice.

"O Rollo," exclaimed Mary, "don't go so near!"

"Why, there is no danger," said Rollo.

"Rollo! Rollo!" exclaimed Mary again, as Rollo went nearer and nearer.

His father had turned away, just as he had finished what he said above,
and so had not observed what Rollo was doing. In fact, he did not go
near enough to the brink to be in any danger, though Mary was afraid to
have him so near.

His mother, hearing Mary's call, turned to see what was the matter, and
she, too, felt afraid at seeing Rollo so near. She called him to come
away; but Rollo told her that he was not near enough to fall.

"But I had rather that you would come away," said his mother; and she
looked very anxious and uneasy, and began to hurry along towards him.

"You see that large island off to the right," said Rollo's father,
directing her attention in the right quarter.

"Yes, I see it--Rollo!"

"Well, that is George's Island. There is a rock lying just about south
of it."

"Yes," said Rollo's mother, "I believe I see it," beckoning at the same
time to Rollo.

Her mind was evidently occupied with watching Rollo. She looked first
at the rock and island, where Mr. Holiday was pointing, and then back at
Rollo, until at length Mr. Holiday, perceiving that her mind was
disturbed by Rollo's motions, said to him,

"Rollo, keep outside of us."

"Outside, father!" said Rollo;