mb easier. There now! take hold of my hand. I'll jump over to that
rock and help you to come on, too!"

Well was it for me that Georgie was a strong, agile boy, head and
shoulders taller than I. I needed all his help in the homeward journey.
I tremble even yet as I think of the perils of the half mile that we
traversed before darkness fell. The rough rocks tore our hands and feet
as we clambered painfully over them. They were slippery with sea-weed
and wet with the waves that from time to time rolled across them. More
than once I slipped and would have fallen into the raging water below,
but for Georgie's sustaining arm. Looking back now to that dark evening,
Georgie's bravery and presence of mind seem wonderful to me. He spoke
little, only now and then directing me where to place my feet, but his
strong, boyish hand held mine in a firm grasp, and his clear eyes saw
just when to seize the opportunity, given by a receding wave, to spring
from one rock to another.

"Georgie, shall we _ever_ reach home?" I sighed at last as we gained the
end of a spur of rock over which we had been walking. Georgie made no
answer, and I turned, in surprise, to look at him. His face was very
white, and his great eyes were staring out into the twilight with such a
frightened gaze that I looked about me with a sudden increase of terror.
I had thought the worst of the way over, and in the gathering darkness
had hardly noticed where we were going, following Georgie with perfect
trust in his judgment. Now I suddenly saw that we could proceed no
farther. We stood, as I have said, on a long ridge of rock. Before us,
at our very feet, was the wildly surging water, tearing at the rocks as
if to wrest them from their foundation. Beyond, we could see the strong
cliffs again, but far out of reach. Behind were only the narrow rocks
over which we had come; and on either side the cruel sea cut us off from
all hope of gaining the land. I sank on the slippery sea-weed, in an
agony of terror, sobbing out my mother's name. Georgie sat down beside
me. "Don't cry, Allie!" he said, in a trembling voice. "Please don't! We
may be saved yet. Perhaps they'll come after us in a boat. Or we can
stay here till morning."

"But oh! I want to go home! I want mamma," I sobbed; "and I'm so cold
and tired, and my feet ache so! O Georgie, _can't_ we go on?"

Georgie was silent for a few moments. "No," he said, at last, "we must
stay here, but don't be afraid. Here, I'm not