reach the island," said Mr Cole; "are you
inclined to try it, lads?" We of course said we were. He looked at his
watch, which being an old silver hunting one, was, in spite of the wet,
still going, and found that it was two o'clock. "In another half hour
we must make the attempt," said he; "so, lads, prepare as best you can.
It won't be an easy job." The time to wait seemed very long. We
watched the tide ebbing, and rock after rock appearing. At last he
said, "We cannot hope for a better opportunity than now. I'll lead the
way. Lend me a hand, lads, if I want it."

We promised him that we would, and slipping down the rock on the land
side a much greater distance than we had come up, we found our feet
touching the bottom. There was no sea to speak of, so on we went pretty
confidently. The old man advanced very cautiously, but Charley Iffley,
thinking that we might move faster, said he would go ahead. He did, and
went head under also immediately afterwards. He came up again directly,
and struck out towards the next rock. We took to swimming at once, to
save the loss of breath, and all reached the next rock without
difficulty. After resting a little, we started again. We had no wish
to remain longer than we could help with a north-easterly gale blowing
on us in the month of March. The cold, too, was very bitter. Yet at
the time I fancy I scarcely thought about it. Thus on we went,
sometimes wading, sometimes swimming, and sometimes scrambling along the
ledge which the receding water had left bare. Often we had to assist
each other, and I believe none of us alone could have performed the
task. Once Mr Cole was very nearly giving in, and twice Charley
declared he could not go on, and must stay on the rock where we were
resting till we could send him aid. We soon showed him that the rock
would be covered long before assistance could reach him, and in another
instant he was as ready as either of us to proceed. Once I almost gave
in, but my companions roused me up, and again I set forward with renewed
strength.

It was not, however, till six o'clock in the evening that we reached the
shore, and as we found ourselves on dry land we staggered up the beach,
and the old mate fell down on his knees, and in a way I did not expect
of him, thanked the Almighty for the mercy He had shown us. It was a
wild, desolate place, with only high rocks about on every side, without
trees, and no roads that we could discover