blanched with dismay.

It now occurred to them for the first time, and simultaneously, that
there was no hope of their escaping, either by flight or concealment.

They were already some distance out upon the open plain, as conspicuous
upon its surface of white sand, as would have been three black crows in
the middle of a field six inches under snow.

They saw that they had made a mistake. They should have stayed among
the sand-ridges, and sought shelter in some of the deep gullies that
divided them. They bethought them of going back; but a moment's
deliberation was sufficient to convince them that this was no longer
practicable. There would not be time, scarce even to re-enter the
ravine, before their pursuers would be upon them.

It was an instinct that had caused them to rush towards the sea, their
habitual home, for which they had thoughtlessly sped, notwithstanding
their late rude ejection from it. Now that they stood upon its shore,
as if appealing to it for protection, it seemed still desirous of
spurning them from its bosom, and leaving them without mercy to their
merciless enemies.

A line of breakers trended parallel to the water's edge, scarce a
cable's length from the shore, and not two hundred yards from the spot
where they had come to a pause.

They were not very formidable breakers, only the tide rolling over a
sand-bar, or a tiny reef of rocks. It was at best but a big surf,
crested with occasional flakes of foam, and sweeping in successive
swells against the smooth beach.

What was there in all this to fix the attention of the fugitives, for it
had? The seething flood seemed only to hiss at their despair.

And yet almost on the instant after suspending their flight, they had
turned their faces towards it, as if some object of interest had
suddenly shown itself in the surf. Object there was none, nothing but
the flakes of white froth and the black vitreous waves over which it was
dancing.

It was not an object, but a purpose that was engaging their attention, a
resolve that had suddenly sprung up within their minds, almost as
suddenly to be carried into execution. After all, their old home was
not to prove so inhospitable. It would provide them with a place of
concealment.

The thought occurred to all three almost at the same instant of time;
though Terence was the first to give speech to it.

"By Saint Patrick!" he exclaimed, "let's take to the wather! Them
breakers 'll give us a