BENEATH THE CLIFFS OF THE ROCKY SHORE.

Josh and Will were in waiting with the boat, not the one that had been
used on the previous night, for it had been determined to send that in
to hospital, but a rather larger and lighter boat, belonging to Uncle
Abram; and this had been carefully mopped out, with the result that
there were not quite so many fish-scales visible, though even now they
were sticking tenaciously as acorn barnacles to every level spot.

"All ready, sir," said Will, coming forward; "and my uncle says you're
welcome to a boat whenever there's one in, and that as to payment,
you're to please give our man Josh a trifle, and that's all."

Mr Temple was about to make an objection, but he determined to see
Uncle Abram, as he was called, himself, and he at once went down the
steps and into the boat.

"Dick," said Arthur, plucking at his brother's sleeve, "what's that
fisher-fellow grinning at? Is there anything particular about my
clothes?"

"No. He was only smiling because he was glad to see you. There, go
along down."

Josh, who had been spoken of as "that fisher-fellow," endorsed Dick's
words by singing just as if it was a Gregorian chant:

"Glad to see you, sir. Nice morning for a row. Give's your hand, sir.
Mine looks mucky, but it don't come off. It's only tar."

"I can get down, thank you," said Arthur haughtily, and he began to
descend the perpendicular steps to where the boat slowly rose and fell,
some six feet below.

But though Arthur descended backwards like a bear, it was without that
animal's deliberate caution. He wanted experience too, and the
knowledge that the steps, that were washed by every tide, were covered
with a peculiar green weedy growth that was very slippery. He was in a
hurry lest he should be helped--aid being exceedingly offensive to his
dignity, and the consequence was, that when he was half-way down there
was a slip and a bang, caused by Arthur finishing his descent most
rapidly, and going down in a sitting position upon the bottom of the
boat.

"I say," said Josh, "if that had been your foots you'd ha' gone
through."

Arthur leaped up red as a turkey-cock, and in answer to his father's
inquiry whether he was hurt, shook his head violently.

"Don't laugh, Will, don't look at him," said Dick, stifling his own
mirth and turning his back, pretending to draw Will's attention to the
fishing cord and hooks he had bought.

"All right, Master Dick!" said Will co