Part 8 (1/2)

Exactly beneath the spot where he stood, more than half way down, was a ledge about six feet long by four feet wide.

Letting himself over the edge, holding to tufts of gra.s.s, tiny shrubs, jutting stones, cracks in the surface of the sandstone, he managed to reach this narrow ledge, dropping the last ten feet, and landing on it by an almost superhuman effort of balance.

One moment he paused; carefully took its measure; then, leaning over, looked down. Sixty feet remained, a precipitous slope, with nothing to which foot could hold, or hand could cling.

Jim Airth b.u.t.toned his Norfolk jacket, and tightened his belt. Then slipping, feet foremost off the ledge, he glissaded down on his back, bending his knees at the exact moment when his feet thudded heavily on to the sand.

For a moment the shock stunned him. Then he got up and looked around.

He stood, within ten yards of the scarlet parasol, on the small strip of sand still left uncovered by the rapidly advancing sweep of the rising tide.

CHAPTER X

”YEO HO, WE GO!”

”A cameo chaperonage,” murmured Lady Ingleby, and suddenly opened her eyes.

Sky and sea were still there, but between them, closer than sea or sky, looking down upon her with a tense light in his blue eyes, stood Jim Airth.

”Why, I have been asleep!” said Lady Ingleby.

”You have,” said Jim Airth; ”and meanwhile the sun has set, and--the tide has come up. Allow me to a.s.sist you to rise.”

Lady Ingleby put her hand into his, and he helped her to her feet. She stood beside him gazing, with wide startled eyes, at the expanse of sea, the rus.h.i.+ng waves, the tiny strip of sand.

”The tide seems very high,” said Lady Ingleby.

”Very high,” agreed Jim Airth. He stood close beside her, but his eyes still eagerly scanned the water. If by any chance a boat came round the point there would still be time to hail it.

”We seem to be cut off,” said Lady Ingleby.

”We _are_ cut off,” replied Jim Airth, laconically.

”Then I suppose we must have a boat,” said Lady Ingleby.

”An excellent suggestion,” replied Jim Airth, drily, ”if a boat were to be had. But, unfortunately, we are two miles from the hamlet, and this is not a time when boats pa.s.s in and out; nor would they come this way. When I saw you, from the top of the cliff, I calculated the chances as to whether I could reach the boats, and be back here in time. But, before I could have returned with a boat, you would have--been very wet,” finished Jim Airth, somewhat lamely.

He looked at the lovely face, close to his shoulder. It was pale and serious, but showed no sign of fear.

He glanced at the point of cliff beyond. Twenty feet above its rocky base the breakers were das.h.i.+ng; but round that point would be safety.

”Can you swim?” asked Jim Airth, eagerly.

Myra's calm grey eyes met his, steadily. A gleam of amus.e.m.e.nt dawned in them.

”If you put your hand under my chin, and count 'one--two! one--two!' very loud and quickly, I can swim nearly ten yards,” she said.

Jim Airth laughed. His eyes met hers, in sudden comprehending comrades.h.i.+p. ”By Jove, you're plucky!” they seemed to say. But what he really said was: ”Then swimming is no go.”