nge fathers, but I suppose we couldn't do that."

We did not argue out that question, but went on talking in a low prosy
tone, as we sat there with our backs supported against the cliff; and I
suppose it must have been Bob's low muttering voice, mingled with the
darkness, the natural hour for sleep, and the murmuring of the waves,
that had so curious and lulling an effect upon me, for all at once it
seemed that the water was running down from the mine shaft where it was
being pumped up, the big pump giving its peculiar beats as it worked,
and the splash and rush of the water sounding very soft and clear.

Then I seemed to be down in the mine, and it was very dark and cold, and
I climbed up again and sat down on the ground to listen to the washing
of the water, the hurrying of the stream, and the regular beat of the
pump; and then I was awake again, staring out into the darkness that
hung over the sea. For a few minutes I was so confused that I could not
make out where I was. It was cold and I was shivering, and the rushing
of the water and the beat of the pump was going on still.

No, it was not; for I was up there on the shelf of rock miles away from
our mine, and I had been set to keep watch with Bob Chowne; and here was
he, close by me, breathing heavily, fast asleep.

I felt miserable and disgraced to think that I should have been so
wanting in my sense of duty as to have slept, and Bob was no better.

"Bob! Bob!" I whispered, shaking him.

"Yes," he said with a start; "I know--I wasn't asleep."

"Hush! Listen!" I said. "What's that noise?"

We both listened, and my heart throbbed as I heard a regular plash and
thud from off the sea.

"Boat," said Bob decidedly. "Shall I hail it?"

"No," I replied quickly.

"Why not? It's a boat coming to fetch us."

I could not think that it was, and creeping to where my father lay I
shook him.

"Yes. Time to watch?" he said quietly.

"Hush! Listen!" I said.

He sat up:

"Boat," he said, "close in."

"Is it coming to fetch us, father?" I whispered.

"No, boy; if it were, those on board would hail."

"What shall we do--shout?" I asked him.

"Certainly not. Here, Bigley, sit up, my lad! All keep perfectly still
and wait. We do not know whose boat it may be."

He was our leader, and we neither of us thought of saying a word, but
sat and listened to the low plash and roll of the oars of some big boat
that seemed to be very close in; and so it