rightly and the sea was as clear as crystal; but there was generally a
pleasant breeze, and the pleasant breeze that only seemed to ripple the
water was sufficient twice over to raise good-sized waves amongst the
rocks, and to send a rush of broken water enough to upset a boat,
foaming and dashing in at the mouth of the cave.

Failing the success of this enterprise, Mr Temple, who was with them,
made Will and Josh row on to the rift in the cliff where the vein of
white spar had been found by Will; and leaving all in the boat, Dick's
father went up by himself and stayed for long enough, while his sons
were rowed to and fro fishing with more or less success.

One morning, though, as Dick was dreaming of being in the green-house at
home when the hail was pattering down, there seemed to come three or
four such sharp cracks that he awoke and jumped out of bed. The next
moment he was at the window pulling up the blind and looking out, to see
Will on the rugged pathway waiting for him to open the window.

"Seal-cave to-day," he said. "Look out to sea."

Dick looked out to sea, where there was a dense mist that seemed to wrap
everything in its folds. The luggers appeared dim--those that were near
shore--while others were completely hidden. Overhead the sky was clear,
and the sun was shining brightly, while where its light fell upon the
mist it became rosily transparent, and the masts of some of the luggers
looked double their usual size.

"Seals, Taff, seals!" cried Dick, shaking his brother's shoulder, with
the effect of making him hurriedly scramble out of bed, yawning
terribly, and gazing in an ill-used way at his brother, as he sat down
and began to rub his feet one over the other.

"Don't sit down, Taff; dress yourself. I'm going to call father."

"Shut that window first," cried Arthur; "it's so horribly cold."

"Cold! Ha! ha! Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Dick. "What a chap you are, Taff!
Here, Will, he says it's cold. Go to the pump for a pail of cold water
to warm him."

"He had better not," cried Arthur, hurriedly scuffling into his
trousers. "If he did I would never forgive him."

"I'm not going to get any water, Master Arthur," cried Will; "but make
haste down, it's such a glorious morning!"

"'Tisn't," said Arthur, whose eyes were swelled up with sleepiness.
"It's all misty and thick, and the window-sill's wet, and the roses
outside look drenched. Heigh, ho, ha, hum!" he yawned. "I shall go to
bed for