scanning sea and shore in search of hope. For Bowler's party
there seemed very little prospect of anything turning up, for their way
lay across bare ledges of rock, with perhaps a pool to wade, or a little
cape to scramble across, but never a sign of food or shelter. Braintree
did indeed announce that in one place he saw a "cwab" disappear into a
hole, but the chances of satisfaction from that source were too remote
to be pursued.

How they longed to be back under the roof of old Swishford, and to hear
the cheery bell summoning the boys to tea, and how gratefully now would
they have welcomed the wholesome plenty of that often abused meal!
Alas! there were no cups of tea, or eggs, or bread-and-butter going on
the Long Stork.

"Of course," said Bowler, "we could never be _quite_ stuck up for grub
as long as there's seaweed about, and if the rain goes on like this
there'll be plenty of water too."

"You're wight there," said Braintree; "but seaweed and wain-water is
warthah a spare diet."

"Anyhow," said Bowler, "we have got enough of the shrimps and peaches
left for a good breakfast to-morrow; that's one comfort."

And they trudged on in that glorious prospect.

For an hour they toiled along the rocky shore until the daylight almost
suddenly vanished, and the gloom of a damp November night fell upon
them. What was the use of exploring further? Even Bowler lost heart as
he stumbled about in the dusk, and heard Braintree shivering and
chattering with cold beside him, and Tubbs's scarcely suppressed whimper
of misery.

"Better get back to the rest as soon as we can," said he, taking out his
whistle and blowing it again.

They listened, but no answer came, only the shriek of the gulls and the
steady splash of the rain on the rocks.

"Never mind, we can't be long before we get round to them," said Bowler;
"perhaps they've found a place, you know."

For another half-hour they toiled on, Bowler blowing his whistle every
few minutes, but always without response.

"Where can they be? We're almost round at the place we started from,
surely," said Bowler, "and--hullo, look out there!"

They had reached a sudden break in the coast about twenty yards across,
with rocks on each side which dropped almost precipitously into the
water, forming a serious bar to further progress.

They must either scramble down and wade or swim across, or else turn
inland and make a long detour round the head of the chasm.

Bowler ma