or I hinted at it, and Bigley was exceedingly quiet and
dull. In fact he went away from us after a time and sat down on the top
of a rock close to the eastern point, a rock to which he had to leap,
for it was still in the water, and there he sat waiting till he could
get to another and another, and at last waved his hand to us, when we
followed him and got round on to the shore on the other side.

It was no easy task even there, for the beach was terribly encumbered
with rocks, but by creeping in and out, and by dint of some climbing, we
managed to get along, and at last reached the Gap just as Doctor Chowne
was about setting off back to get a boat at Ripplemouth and come in
search of us, after having been up all night waiting for Bob's return,
and then riding over to the Bay to hear from Kicksey that we had not
been back, and then on to the Gap, to find that we had all gone out in
Jonas Uggleston's boat, and not been heard of since.

"Well," said the doctor, after hearing a part of our adventure, "I
suppose I must not thank Bob for this job, eh, Duncan? It was your
fault, you see. My word, sir, you did give me a fright."

"I'll take all the blame, Chowne," said my father; "but let me tell Mrs
Bonnet that we're all right, poor woman, and then let's walk across to
my place to breakfast."

There was no need to go and tell Mother Bonnet, for she had caught sight
of us, and came at a heavy trot over the pebbles to display a face and
eyes red with weeping, and to burst forth into quite a wail as she flung
her arms about Bigley, and hugged and kissed him.

"Oh, my dear child! My dear child!" she cried, "I've been up and down
here all night afraid that you was drowned."

Just then I noticed that Bob Chowne was backing behind his father, and
feeling moved by the same impulse, I backed behind mine, for we were
both in a state of alarm for fear that the good-hearted old woman should
want to hug and kiss us too. Fortunately, however, she did not, for all
her attention was taken up by Bigley, and we soon after parted, Bigley
going with Mother Bonnet towards old Jonas's cottage, and we boys
following our fathers to reach the cliff path and get home.

"You will not come along here on the pony," said my father as the doctor
mounted his sturdy little Exmoor-bred animal.

"Indeed but I shall," replied the doctor. "Why not?"

"It will be so dangerous for a mounted man."

"Tchah!" exclaimed the doctor, "my pony's too fond