."

"Yes; it must be an awful coast in a storm."

"Ay, it be!" said Josh. "See yon island, sir?" he continued, pointing
to a long black reef standing up out of the sea about half a mile from
shore. "Why, I've known that covered by the waves. They'll wash right
over it, and send their tops clean over them highest rocks."

"And how high are they?" said Mr Temple, examining the ragged pile,
upon which were perched half a dozen beautiful grey gulls, apparently
watching their fellows, who were slowly wheeling about over the surface
in search of food.

"Good fifty feet, sir; and I've seen the waves come rolling in like
great walls, and when they reached the rocks they've seemed to run right
up 'em and go clean over."

"That's what you call the sea running mountains high, eh, my man?" said
Mr Temple, rather dryly.

"No, sir, I don't," said Josh quietly; "'cause the sea don't run
mountains high. Out in the middle of the bay there, where the water's
deep, I dunno as ever I see a wave that would be more than say fifteen
foot high. It's when it comes on the rocks and strikes that the water's
thrown up so far. Look at that, sir," he said, pointing towards a wave
that came along apparently higher than the boat, as if it would swamp
them, but over which they rode easily. "See where she breaks!"

They watched the wave seem to gather force till it rose up, curled over
like a glistening arc of water, striking the rocks, and then rushing up,
to come back in a dazzling cascade of foam.

"How high did she go?" said Josh quietly.

"Why, it must have dashed up nine or ten feet, my man," replied Mr
Temple.

"Things look small out here, sir," said Josh. "If you was to measure
that you'd find it all two fathom, and this is a fine day. Sea leaps
pretty high in a storm, as maybe you'll see if you're going to stop down
here."

"I hope I shall," said Mr Temple. "Now, then, where are you going to
land next?"

"Will and me thought p'r'aps you'd like to see the white rock as he
found one day?"

"White rock? what is it--quartz?" said Mr Temple.

"No, sir, I don't think it is," said Will; "it's too soft for that."

"You know what quartz is, then," said Mr Temple quickly.

"Oh, yes, sir! all the mining lads down here know what that is. Pull
steady, Josh. Somewhere about here, wasn't it?"

"Nay, nay, my lad. I should have thought you'd knowed. Second cove
beyond the seal-cave."

"Seal-cave!" cried Dick. "Are we going