talk."

"I will not go without you. Let us both get in together."

"The rope will hardly bear two. Besides, I doubt if there is strength
enough above to pull us up. Get in, get in."

Barton still hesitated. "I am afraid to leave you alone. Promise me if
I go that you will not--. I can't say what I mean, but if anything
happened to you I should be the cause of it."

"For shame, sir, shame. I guess what you mean, but I have not forgotten
who made me, though I have been sorely tried. In with you at once." He
suddenly lifted Barton up in his arms, and almost threw him into the
basket, raising a loud shout, upon which the basket again ascended the
cliff more rapidly than on the first occasion. Hawkstone fell upon his
knees at the base of the cliff, while the waves roared at him like wild
beasts held back from their victim. He was alone with them and with the
God in whom his simple faith taught him to trust as being mightier than
all the waves. Down came the basket with great rapidity, and Hawkstone
had a hard fight before he could drag it out from the waves and get into
it. Drenched from head to foot, and cold and trembling with excitement
and grief, he again shouted, and the basket once more ascended. He
remembered no more. A sudden faintness overcame him, and the first thing
he remembered was feeling himself borne along on a kind of extemporary
litter, and hearing kind voices saying that he was "coming to," and would
soon be all right again.

Luckily there was no scandal. It was thought quite natural that
Hawkstone should be with Nelly, and Barton was supposed to have been
there by accident. Of course, we knew what the real state of the case
was, and were glad that Barton had got a good fright; but we kept our own
counsel.

CHAPTER VII.--CONCLUSION.

Very soon after the events recorded in the last chapter, the Reading
Party broke up, and it only remains now for the writer of this veracious
narrative to disclose any information he may have subsequently obtained
as to the fate of his characters. Porkington still holds an honoured
position in the University, and still continues to take young men in the
summer vacation to such places as Mrs. Porkington considers sufficiently
invigorating to her constitution. They grow better friends every year,
but the grey mare will always be the better horse. One cause of
difference has disappeared. The Drag died very shortly after leaving
Babbicombe; not