more time; we 'll take him down between
us."

"No, no," said Darby; "put him on my back; I 'll do it myself."

"The ground's slippier than you take it," said the other; "my way 's the
safest."

With that he lifted me from the car, and placing me between Darby and
himself, they grasped each other's hands beneath me, and soon began a
descent which I saw would have been perfectly impracticable for one man
to have accomplished with another on his back.

During the time, my desire to know where they were bringing me again
grew stronger than ever; and as I turned to ask Darby, I perceived that
the tears were coursing each other fast down his weatherbeaten cheeks,
while his lips shook and trembled like one in an ague.

"Mind your footing there, my man, I say," cried the sailor, "or you'll
have us over the cliff."

"Round the rock to the left there," cried a voice from below. "That's
it, that's it; now you're all right. Steady there; give me your hand."

As he spoke, two men advanced from the boat, and assisted us down
the sloping beach, where the wet seaweed made every step a matter of
difficulty.

"Lay him in the stern there; gently, lads, gently," said the voice of
one who appeared the chief amongst them. "That's it; throw those jackets
under his head. I say, piper, ar'n't you coming with us?"

But Darby could not speak one word. A livid pallor was over his
features, and the tears fell, drop by drop, upon his cheek.

"Master Tom," said he, at length, as his lips almost touched me, "my
child, my heart's blood, you won't forget poor Darby. Ye 'll be a great
man yet; ye 'll be all I wish ye. But will you remember a poor man like
me?"

"Jump ashore there, my good fellow," cried the coxswain; "we'll have
enough to do to round the point before the tide ebbs."

"One minit more, and God love ye for it," said Darby, in a voice of
imploring accent. "Who knows will we ever meet again; 't is the last
time, maybe, I 'll ever look on him."

I could but press his hand to my heart; for my agitation increased the
debility I felt, and every effort to speak was in vain.

"One half minit more,--if it 's only that he 'll be able to say, 'God
bless you, Darby!' and I 'll be happy."

"Push off, my lads!" shouted the sailor, sternly; and as he spoke the
oars plashed heavily in the sea, and the boat rocked over with the
impulse. Twice the strong stroke of the oars sent the craft through
the clear water, when the piper clasped his