p water there and in the caves
beyond. Dropping the little girl as he realised the danger, Thomas
glanced round the cave, still lighted up by Estelle's candle-ends. His
quick eye noted the high-water mark, and some projections of rocky wall
which it would be quite possible for him to reach, and remain in safety
till the tide went down. But what about the children? For Julien he
cared nothing, but Estelle was of the utmost importance to him. It would
be better to lose his own life than let harm come to her. She
represented his gold-mine, without which he had no means of living. She
must be saved at all costs, therefore.

'We can't get out of this,' he said, at last, as he turned to the two
shivering children who were clinging to each other. Julien's face was
raised, his eyes seeking some place above high-water mark to which he
could take Estelle.

'I can save the little lady,' continued Thomas, 'but you, young master,
must look to yourself. I suppose you were not born near these caves for
nothing?'

'I will stay with Julien,' said Estelle, with great resolution. 'If you
won't save him, you shall not save me.'

But Thomas was not in a temper to listen. He would not waste time in
talk when the little girl was too small to offer any serious resistance.
Without another word he seized her in his arms, tore her from the French
boy's hold, and running towards the ledge he had noted, lifted her up
towards it.

'Catch hold of the rock, my lady,' he urged, holding her as high as he
could, 'and I'll help you up.'

Estelle, obeying instinctively, stretched up her hands, but the ledge
was beyond her reach. With no intermediate projection to assist her,
Thomas saw she could not get up to so great a height. There was nothing
for it but to put her down, pull himself up to the ledge, and drag her
up after him. Even this he could not do without the aid of Julien. The
little girl must be lifted up to meet his outstretched hands. Before he
could speak or conciliate Julien, however, the boy had rushed upon him.
Another struggle was about to ensue when a stronger wave than usual
washed half over them, wetting them to the skin.

'Why don't you help me to save her?' cried Thomas, angrily, pushing the
boy from him with violence. 'Do that or save yourself. You will drown
the lot of us if you don't show more sense.'

Julien fell into the surge of the water. Estelle screamed, and would
have flung herself after him, but Thomas held her fas