over him, and then I'll go down. But did you ever see a hole
along here?"

"Nay--never!"

"Come on."

Joe led the way inland, and then had to clamber over block after block
of tumbled together granite for some fifty yards, when he turned to
begin mounting to the hog-back-like ridge which ran out to the great
bastion which overhung the sea.

It was an awkward climb--not dangerous, but difficult. Joe's heart was
in his work though; and, free now from superstitious dread, Hardock
toiled after him, keeping up so that he was at his shoulder when the boy
lay down on his chest and looked over the edge.

For a few moments he could see nothing but ledge and jutting block,
whitened by the sea-birds which here brought up their young in peace,
for even the reckless boys had looked upon it as too hazardous to
descend. The sea far below was just creaming among the rocks which
peered above the water, and ran out in a reef causing a dangerous race;
but though Joe searched the whole cliff face below him for nearly a
minute he could see nothing, and at last he shouted with all his might
and had a lesson in the feebleness of the human voice in that vast
expanse.

"Ahoy!"

"Ahoy!" came up from below as faintly as the cry which evoked it.

"I can't see him," said Hardock, shading his eyes as he peered down.

"No; he must be under one of the blocks that jut out."

"Ay and all hings over, or he'd ha' climbed up. Now, my lad, what's to
be done? Will you go down?"

"Yes, of course; but knot me fast this time, Sam."

"Ay, my lad, I will. You trust me."

"I will, Sam," said the boy, calmly. Then he strained outwards, put
both hands, trumpet fashion, to his lips, and shouted,--

"Ahoy! Coming down.--Hardock, look! I can see him."

"Eh? Where? I can't see nought."

"There, nearly straight under us, about half-way down--look!"

"No; I can't see him. Can you?"

"Yes; only his hand. It's like a speck. He's waving it to us. There,
I can just see a bit of his arm, too."

"I got it now. Yes, I can see it. He must be at the mouth of an adit
where they threw out their waste stuff to be washed away by the sea."

"Ahoy! Rope!"

Those two words came up plainly now, and Joe answered through his closed
hands.

"All--right--coming down!--Now, Sam, quick. Make me fast, and lower
away."

"No! Rope!" came up from below.

"Says you aren't to go down," cried Hardock, excitedly. "And why should
yer? I'll drop the