e regular
rookery of sea-birds, whose cries were deafening when they were close
in.

"Say when," cried the sailor, who had given up the tiller to Aleck and
stepped forward ready to lower the sail.

"Now!" cried the lad, dismally, a few minutes later; and down came the
sail, while in obedience to the rudder the boat glided in between the
two walls of perpendicular rock, running in for some little distance
before it became necessary for the sailor to help her along by means of
the boat-hook and guide her right into her little haven.

Here Tom Bodger was quite at home, and as active as the boat's owner,
stumping about inside, and then hopping off one of the thwarts on to the
rocks, ready to take mast, yard, oars, and boat-hook up into their
places, securing the boat's painter to the big ring-bolt, and then
taking one side while Aleck took the other and swinging her right up on
to the rocks.

"There we are, then," said the sailor, a few minutes later; "all
ship-shape and snug. Shall I put them baits back in the coorge?"

"No, no, Tom," said Aleck, dismally; "empty the bucket into the sea, and
give them a chance for their lives."

"Ay, that's right, Master Aleck, for they begin to look as if they'd
been too long in the bucket."

This latter was emptied, and then the couple began to ascend the gap
towards the opening into the sunk garden. Tom stopped after getting
over the stones like the rock-hopper penguin.

"I'll slip off now, Master Aleck, case the captain may be out in the
garden," whispered the sailor.

"Yes, you'd better go now, Tom. Do I look so very bad?"

"Tidy, sir, tidy; but don't you mind that. Go right at him, and let him
know as soon as you can that you beat. You'll be all right then. Maybe
he'll let out at you at first, but all the time he'll be beginning to
feel that you leathered a big hulking chap as is the worst warmint in
Rockabie, and you'll come out all right. Day, Master Aleck!"

"Good day, Tom, and thank you. I'll remind uncle about your shillings
if he forgets."

"He won't forget, sir; the captain's a gen'leman as never forgets
nothing o' that sort. Now then, sir, ram your little head down and lay
yourself aboard him. Nothing like getting it over. Head first and out
of your misery, same as when I learned you to swim."

Tom Bodger shut one eye, gave the lad a frown and a knowing look, and
then away he went up a rugged staircase-like pathway to the top of the
cliff, looking