birds, the
red-legged choughs, and startled a few jackdaws, which went off shouting
at them, Mike said; and then the top was won, and they had a long survey
of the cove from another point of view.

But there was nothing fresh to see; all beneath them was entirely hid
from view, and though they looked again and again as they continued
their course along the ridge their patience and toil were not rewarded,
for, save that they were from different standpoints, the views they
obtained of the rocks and rushing waters were the same.

They continued along the ridge by slow climbing for a considerable
distance, and then as if moved by the same spirit they stopped and
looked at each other.

"I say," said Mike, "it don't seem any good to go any farther."

"No," was the reply, given in a very decisive tone. "The only way to
see that place down below is to get there in a boat."

"And old Joe Daygo says it's not right to go, and we should never get
back; so we shall never see it."

"I don't believe that," said Vince shortly.

"Well, I don't want to, but it seems as if he's right, and the more one
looks the more one believes in him."

"I don't," said Vince. "The more I look the more I seem to want to go
and have a thorough good search, and I can't help thinking he knows
why."

"Shall we try him again?"

Vince thoughtfully shook his head, as he gazed down once more from
between two pieces of granite that the storms of centuries had carved
till they seemed to have been set upon edge.

"Might offer him some money."

"I don't believe he'd like it, and you know Jemmy Carnach once said
that, though he always dressed so shabbily and never spent anything, he
always was well off."

"Well, then, what are we to do? I want to see the place worse than
ever. It looks so tempting, and as if there's no knowing what we might
find."

"I don't think we should find anything about it but that it would be a
good place for fishing. It must be if no one ever goes there. Why,
Ladle, all the holes among the rocks must swarm with lobsters, and the
congers must be as big as serpents."

Mike nodded.

"But how are we to get there to fish for them?"

"Don't know, unless we try it ourselves with a boat."

"Would you risk it?"

Vince did not answer for a few moments, but stood clinging to the rock,
gazing down and searchingly examining the opening through which the tide
poured.

"I'm not sure yet," he said; "but I begin to think I w