Part 7 (1/2)

”Ay, and that's all you will ever see on it, 'less you get wings like one o' they shags,” said the olditself upon an outlying rock ”They've seen it, p'r'aps; and you lass”

”And clie of the cliff, and look over?” said Vince

”What!” cried Daygo, with a look of horror ”Nay, don't you never try to do that, lad; you'd be sure to fall, and down you'd go into the sea, where it's all by ling and whizzing and whirling round You'd be sucked down at once aain Ah! it's a horful place in there for 'bout quarter of auns, too--sailed by people as knowed no better, gone too near, and then it's all over with 'eo

You never hear of 'eain--not so much as a plank ever comes out!”

”What becoed old fellow curiously

”Chawed up,” was the laconic reply, as the old fellow shaded his brow, and gazed long and anxiously beyond the headland they were leaving on their left

”But I want to see what it's like,” said Mike

”Ay, and so has lots o' lads, and ster,” said the old man solemnly; ”and want's had to be their master It arn't to be done”

”Well, look here,” continued Mike, for Vince sat very thoughtfully looking fro on his mind: ”steer as close in as it's safe, and let's have a look, then”

”Do what?” roared the old man fiercely

”Steer as close in as it's safe,” repeated Mike ”We want to go, don't we, Vince?”

The lad nodded

”Don't I tell you it's not safe nowhere? It's my belief, boys, as there's some'at 'orrid about that there place I don't say as there is, s below as lays hold o' the keel of a boat and runs it into the curren' as soon as you goes anywhere near--and then it's all over with you, for you never get back

Your boat's rooshed round and round as soon as you get clost in, and she's washed up again the rocks all in shi+vers, and down they goes, just as if you tied a little 'baccy-box at the end of a string, and turned it round and round, and kep' hitting it again the stones”

”Oh! I don't believe about your things under water doing that,” said Mike--”only currents and cross currents: do you, Cinder?”

Vince did not answer, but sat gazing beyond the great headland, looking very thoughtful

”Ah, my lad! it's all very well for you to talk,” said the old man solemnly; ”but you don't knohat there is in the wast deep, nor I don't neither I've heerd orful noises co ashore, and the roarings and s as come up over the cliffs have been t'reble”

”Yes, but it isn't blowing now,” said Mike: ”take us in a bit, just round the point”

”Nay,” said the oldhis head; ”I won't say I won't, a-cause I could never face your fathers andan old 'un now, and it wouldn't h I have made upabout you two lads, as is only sixteen or so”

”Vince is only fifteen,” said Mike quickly, as if snatching at the chance of proving his seniority

”On'y fifteen!” cried the old man ”Think o' that now--on'y fifteen and you sixteen, which hty years ently!” cried Mike; but Vince did not speak

”And do you think I' lives short all that lish, and I won't do that

If I'd been what you two young fellows said--a Spannle--it et back; and one on you can have the lobster, and t'other the Dory and mullet”