upon him, "Jack, spare him, spare him. He meant no
harm. Not now, not now! The sea, Jack, the sea! Save us, save us!"

The man's strength seemed to leave him, and she seemed to overpower him,
as he sank back into his former position, muttering "O God, O God!" At
last he said, "Let be, let be--there, there, I've prayed I might not kill
you both, and the devil is gone, thank the Lord for it. There, lass,
don't fret; I can't abide crying. The sea! the sea! Yes, the sea. I
had almost forgotten it. Cheer up a bit--fearful--how it blows--but
there's time yet--a few minutes. Keep up, keep up. There's a God above
us anyway."

At this moment a shout was heard above them. "There they are at last,"
cried Hawkstone, and he sent a loud halloo up the cliff, which was
immediately responded to by those at the top, though the sound seemed
faint and far off. After the lapse of about five minutes, a basket
attached to two ropes descended slowly and bumped upon the rocks.

"Now, lass, you get up first. Come, come, give over crying. It's no
time for crying now. Be a brave lass or you'll fall out. Sit down and
keep tight hold. Shut your eyes, never mind a bump or two, and keep
tight hold. Now then!" He lifted her into the basket. She tried to
take his hand, but he drew it sharply away.

"Oh, forgive me, forgive me, Jack," she said, "I have been very wicked,
but I will try to be good."

"That's right, lass, that's right. God keep you safe. Hold on," and he
gave a shout up the cliff, and the basket began slowly to ascend. The
two men gazed at it in silence till it reached the summit, when, with a
rapid swirl, it disappeared.

"Thank God, she is safe," said Hawkstone.

"Look, look!" cried Barton, catching hold of Hawkstone in alarm. "Look
how fast the waves are coming. They will be on us directly."

"Yes," said Hawkstone, "there will be barely time to get the two of us up
unless they make great haste. I don't know why they don't lower at once.
Something must have gone wrong with the rope, but they will do their
best, that's certain."

They waited in anxiety amounting to horror, as wave after wave, larger
and louder, roared at them, and rushed round the rocks on which they were
standing. Presently down came the basket, plunging into the retreating
wave.

"Now, then, sir, in with you," said Hawkstone.

"No, you go first. I will not go. It is my fault you are here."

"Nonsense, sir, there's no time for