r father would
not obtain the boat for them.

"Well, well, you must have patience," she answered. "Now go back to
your cave as fast as you can, or you will be wet to the skin."

"I am that already," answered Bill, laughing; "but it's a trifle to
which I am well accustomed."

Once more they shook hands, and exchanging baskets. Jeannette, drawing
her cloak around her, hurried back to the village, while Bill made the
best of his way to the cavern.

He was now able, in spite of the wind, to get along where he had before
found it difficult to pass. In one or two places only did the waves
rolling up wash round his feet, but the water was not of sufficient
depth to carry him off, and he gained the mouth of the cavern in safety.
Jack was eagerly looking out for him, and both of them being very sharp
set, they lost no time in discussing some of the contents of the basket.

As they looked out they saw that the wind had greatly increased. A
heavy north-westerly gale was blowing. It rushed into the cavern filled
with spray from off the now distant foam-tipped waves. What it would do
when the tide was again high was a matter of serious consideration.

"We shall have to go as far back as we can," observed Bill, "and the
sooner we pick out a safe berth the better. I should like, too, to get
my wet clothes off, for the wind makes me feel very cold."

Jack was of the same opinion, and he taking up the basket, they groped
their way to the inner cave round the rock, where it turned, as before
described, to the left. Here they were completely sheltered from the
wind, and had it not been for the loud roar of the waves beating on the
shore, and the howling of the gale in the outer cavern, they would not
have been aware that a storm was raging outside.

They had, it should have been said, collected a quantity of drift wood,
which Jack had thoughtfully employed himself in carrying to the spot
where they were now seated. As they could not possibly run any risk of
being detected, they agreed to light a fire, which they had hitherto
avoided doing.

They soon had a cheerful one blazing up, and it made them feel much more
comfortable. Bill was able to dry his wet clothes, and by its light
they could now take a better survey of their abode than they had
hitherto done.

The cavern was here not more than eight or ten feet in height, but it
was nearly thirty broad, and penetrated, so it seemed to them, far away
into the interior o