h not with the repellent manner
usual with him towards Mr. Ashford, 'I must be there, or that boy will
be in the thickest of it. Wherever is mischief, there is he. I only
wonder he has not broken his neck long ago.'

'By mischief, you mean danger?'

'Yes. I hope he has not heard of this wreck, for if he has, no power on
earth would keep him back from it.'

Comparing the reports they had heard, the clergyman and steward walked
on, Markham's anxiety actually making him friendly. They reached the top
of the steep street of the Cove; but though there was a good view of the
sea from thence, they could distinguish nothing, for another cloud was
rising, and had obscured the moon. They were soon on the quay, now still
more crowded, and heard the exclamations of those who were striving to
keep their eyes on the boats.

'There's one!' 'No!' 'Yes, 'tis!' 'That's Sir Guy's!'

'Sir Guy!' exclaimed Markham. 'You don't mean he is gone? Then I am too
late! What could you be thinking of, you old fool, Jonas, to let that
boy go? You'll never see him again, I can tell you. Mercy! Here comes
another squall! There's an end of it, then!'

Markham seemed to derive some relief from railing at the fishermen,
singly and collectively, while Mr. Ashford tried to learn the real
facts, and gather opinions as to the chance of safety. The old fishermen
held that there was frightful risk, though the attempt was far from
hopeless; they said the young men were all good at their oars, Sir Guy
knew the rocks very well, and the chief fear was, that he might not know
how to steer in such a sea; but they had seen that, though daring,
he was not rash. They listened submissively to Mr. Markham, but
communicated in an under-tone to the vicar, how vain it would have been
to attempt to restrain Sir Guy.

'Why, sir,' said old James Robinson, 'he spoke just like the captain of
a man-of-war, and for all Mr. Markham says, I don't believe he'd have
been able to gainsay him.'

'Your son is gone with him?'

'Ay, sir; and I would not say one word to stop him. I know Sir Guy won't
run him into risk for nothing; and I hope, please God, if Ben comes back
safe, it may be the steadying of him.'

''Twas he that volunteered to go before Sir Guy came, they say?'

'Yes, sir,' said the old man, with a pleased yet melancholy look. 'Ben's
brave enough; but there's the difference. He'd have done it for the
lark, and to dare the rest; but Sir Guy does it with thought, and