ere to watch,' she said. 'Owlett is down there.'

The men remained quite silent when they reached the shore; and the next
thing audible to the two at the top was the dip of heavy oars, and the
dashing of waves against a boat's bow. In a moment the keel gently
touched the shingle, and Stockdale heard the footsteps of the thirty-six
carriers running forwards over the pebbles towards the point of landing.

There was a sousing in the water as of a brood of ducks plunging in,
showing that the men had not been particular about keeping their legs, or
even their waists, dry from the brine: but it was impossible to see what
they were doing, and in a few minutes the shingle was trampled again. The
iron bar sustaining the rope, on which Stockdale's hand rested, began to
swerve a little, and the carriers one by one appeared climbing up the
sloping cliff; dripping audibly as they came, and sustaining themselves
by the guide-rope. Each man on reaching the top was seen to be carrying
a pair of tubs, one on his back and one on his chest, the two being slung
together by cords passing round the chine hoops, and resting on the
carrier's shoulders. Some of the stronger men carried three by putting
an extra one on the top behind, but the customary load was a pair, these
being quite weighty enough to give their bearer the sensation of having
chest and backbone in contact after a walk of four or five miles.

'Where is Owlett?' said Lizzy to one of them.

'He will not come up this way,' said the carrier. 'He's to bide on shore
till we be safe off.' Then, without waiting for the rest, the foremost
men plunged across the down; and, when the last had ascended, Lizzy
pulled up the rope, wound it round her arm, wriggled the bar from the
sod, and turned to follow the carriers.

'You are very anxious about Owlett's safety,' said the minister.

'Was there ever such a man!' said Lizzy. 'Why, isn't he my cousin?'

'Yes. Well, it is a bad night's work,' said Stockdale heavily. 'But
I'll carry the bar and rope for you.'

'Thank God, the tubs have got so far all right,' said she.

Stockdale shook his head, and, taking the bar, walked by her side towards
the downs; and the moan of the sea was heard no more.

'Is this what you meant the other day when you spoke of having business
with Owlett?' the young man asked.

'This is it,' she replied. 'I never see him on any other matter.'

'A partnership of that kind with a young man is very odd