growled
Wallas. "This is mess enough to please even you, Bowler."

"What do you mean?" retorted Gayford; "a lot you've done for the public
good. There are plenty of seagulls about without you to croak, too."

"I wish my umbwellah hadn't gone out to sea," observed Braintree,
shivering.

"By the way," said Crashford, "didn't I see it lying on the rocks. I'll
just run and see," and off he started.

"When shall we ever get away?" asked Wester. "We may get starved here."

"They're sure to see us or find us out in a day or two," said Bowler.

"A day or two!" exclaimed Wallas; "do you really mean we've got to stay
here without food or shelter a day or two? I wish your New Swishford
was in the middle of the sea."

"So it is," dryly observed Bowler.

"Fine fools you've made of us with your humbug and child's play,"
growled the other.

"_You_ don't want much making," retorted Bowler; "and if you want to
talk any more, you can talk to some one else."

Wallas accepted the invitation, and growled all round till everybody was
sick of him.

After a long absence Crashford returned without the umbrella.

"I couldn't find it," said he, sitting down. "It's gone."

"But you found the peaches, you blackguard!" said Bowler, springing up
and pointing to some juicy remains still clinging to the delinquent's
coat. And in his righteous indignation he dealt the traitor a blow
which sent him out of the tent.

A fight ensued there and then between Bowler and Crashford, unhappily,
to the disadvantage of the former, who was no match for the practised
hand opposed to him. The company interposed after a few rounds, and
none too soon for the damaged though still lion-hearted Bowler.

Crashford profited nothing by his victory, for it was decided
unanimously to exclude him from the tent till he chose to apologise for
his treachery; and meanwhile the remains of the slender provisions were
taken into safe custody out of his reach.

The day wore on, and the rain fell heavier and heavier upon the ulster-
roof over their heads. The wind whistled drearily above them, and the
mainland was entirely lost to sight. As far as they were concerned they
might be in the real New Swishford, a thousand miles from the nearest
land.

They huddled together silently, no one caring much to speak. Only
Braintree broke the monotony by shivering audibly, and the footsteps of
Crashford, as he paced up and down outside to keep warm, added a dreary
v