n which she had fallen to
save herself from slipping off into the water. He was not so devoid of
good feeling as not to wish to help her, so he ran on, and taking one of
her hands, he dragged her up and enabled her to reach a spot where the
footing was more secure.

She thanked him simply but warmly, and then looking at him earnestly,
she said, "You are young Master Ludlow, and I think this no place for
you: so get back the way you came, or ill may come of it: there is time
for you before the tide rises, but none to spare."

"Who are you?" said Stephen; "I don't know what you mean; I've done
nothing to offend anybody."

"Who I am does not matter," answered the girl, "It's enough that you are
the son of one who is trying to take the bread out of the mouths of poor
folks who never harmed him."

This remark was sufficient to give Stephen a notion of what she meant,
and being naturally timid, thanking her for her warning, he hurried back
as fast as he could scramble over the rocks. He saw, indeed, that on
account of the tide there was no time to lose, for the tops of several
rocks which were before exposed were completely covered, and the ledge
along which his path lay was becoming narrower and narrower. He began
to get alarmed. It seemed a long way to the broad part of the beach.
He could not swim. He wished he could, even a little, because he might
then swim from rock to rock. He thought that he was very near the end,
when the tide came gliding treacherously up, till the water touched the
very base of the cliff before him. There was no retreat either
backwards or up the cliff. The rocks on which he stood were evidently
covered completely at half-flood, while by the marks on the cliff the
water must reach far above his head at high tide. He ran on almost
shrieking out with terror till the water completely barred his further
progress. He stood trembling on a rock, not daring to plunge in and
attempt to scramble across. It would have been better for him had he
done so boldly at once, for every instant the water was deepening.

He was about to sink down in despair, when he heard a voice shouting to
him. This roused him up, and he saw Tom Bowlby waving the stump of his
arm, and standing on a rock not twenty yards off. "Jump in, young
master, and come over to me, the water is not up to your middle yet, and
it's all smooth sailing between you and me."

Still Stephen, paralysed with fear, would not obey, and at