our neck, too, it is quite vain to
try!"

"If you could just come to that first rock, perhaps I could push him up
to you!"

Bessie came to it, but screamed. "Oh, I'm not steady; I couldn't do it!
Besides, it would hurt him so, and I know you would fall. Poor fellow,
it is very sad; but indeed, Rachel, your life is more precious than a
dog's!"

"I can't leave him to drown," said Rachel, making a desperate scramble,
and almost overbalancing herself. "Here, if you could only get him by
the scrough of his neck, it would not hurt him so much; poor Don, yes,
poor fellow!" as he whined, but still showed his confidence in the
touching manner of a sensible dog, knowing he is hurt for his good.
Bessie made another attempt, but, unused to rocks, she was uneasy about
her footing, and merely frightened herself. "Indeed," she said, "I had
better run and call some one; I won't be long, and you are really quite
safe."

"Yes, quite safe. If you were down here and I above I am sure he could
do it easily."

"Ah! but I'm no cragswoman; I'll be back instantly."

"That way, that's the shortest, call to Zack or his father," tried
Rachel, as the light figure quickly disappeared, leaving her a little
annoyed at her predicament. She was not at all alarmed for herself,
there was no real danger of drowning, she could at any moment get up
the rock herself if she chose to leave the dog to its fate; but that
she could not bear to think of, and she even thought the stimulus of
necessity might prove the mother of invention, if succour should not
come before that lapping flux and reflux of water should have crept up
the shingly beach, on which she stood; but she was anxious, and felt
more and more drawn to the poor dog, so suffering, yet so patient and
confiding. Nor did she like the awkwardness of being helped in what
ought to be no difficulty at all to a native, and would not have been
had her companion, been Grace or even Conrade. Her hope was that her
ally Zack would come, as she had directed Bessie towards the cottage;
but, behold, after a wearily long interval, it was no blue jacket
that appeared, but a round black sea-hide hat, and a sort of easy
clerical-looking dress, that Bessie was fluttering before!

Few words were required, the stranger's height and length of arms did
all that was needful, and Don was placed in safety with less pain and
outcry than could have been hoped, Rachel ascending before the polite
stranger had time to offe