Part 40 (2/2)

”Yes,” said Vince, with a passionate outburst, ”I was thinking of soe piece of orn granite and hid his face on his arm

Half an hour later, the two lads walked slowly ho as they did that, though the evening sunshi+ne had been full in their eyes, the shadow of death had hovered very near

CHAPTER NINETEEN

HAVING IT OUT WITH THE ENEMY

The two boys were very quiet the next , and their tutor rubbed his hands with satisfaction twice in the course of their lesson

”Now, that is what I like,” he said; ”and how iven your hly to the e have in hand!”

That was the only ti a smile appeared on Vince's face; but he did cock his eye in a peculiar way at Mike, only to receive a frown in return

At last the lessons were over, and the boys went out into the garden, strolled into the small shrubbery and patch of woodland which helped to shelter the house froales, and then, et rid of some of their pent-up vitality, they sat down upon a prostrate tree-trunk, which had been left for the purpose, and Vince began to rub his shi+ns, bending up and down in a peculiar seesaw fashi+on

”I a as can be,” he said

”Oh! I' to be ill

Haven't caught horrible colds through kneeling in the water so long, have we?”

”Oh no; it's only being tired out from e did I say, feel disposed to have another try to find the way in?”

”No,” said Mike shortly: ”I wouldn't go through e did yesterday for all the slers' caves in the world”

”Well, I don't think I would!” said Vince thoughtfully ”I'lers' caves in the world But it was risky! Every ti that the boat was sinking fro Iabout it all, too,” said Mike, with a shudder ”It was very horrible!”

They sat thinking for some time, and then Vince tried to rouse himself

”Come on,” he said

”No; I want to sit still”

”But you ht walk half-way home with me”

”No,” said Mike; ”I feel too tired and dull to stir Besides, if I come half-ith you, I shall have as far to walk back as you have to go

That's doing as much as you do I'll come with you as far as the corner”

”Co as they rose ”I feel stiff all over,” sighed Vince, ”and as if o”

They parted at the corner, with the understanding that they were to meet as usual after dinner, and at the appointed ti the roadside to where Mike lay stretched upon the soft turf

But there was not the slightest disposition shown for any fresh adventure, and the only idea which found favour with both was that they should stroll as far as the cliff known to theo over the seascape with their eyes, and try and make out their course on the previous afternoon