Part 41 (1/2)

Half an hour later they had reached the edge of the cliff, sat doith their legs dangling over the side, and searched the sea for the rocks they had threaded and for signs of the swift current

But at the end of sorunt and threw himself backward, to lie with his hands under his head

”I can'tof it, Ladle,” he said i to bother It looked horribly dangerous ere in it yesterday, but it only seems beautiful to-day”

”Yes,” said Mike; ”it's because we're so far off, and things are so h without having the boat leak”

”Horribly,” said Vince ”I wonder we ever got back Won't try it again, then?” he added, after awhile

”No, I won't,” cried Mike, more emphatically than he had spoken that day

”Well, I don't think I will, Ladle; only I feel as if I had been beaten”

”So do I: as sore all over as sore”

”Tchah! I don't : beaten when I ht into the cove in front of the caves I say, it wasn't worth taking old Joe's boat for anda hole in the bottole word about it yet”

”Felt too tired I don't care He'll kick up a row, and say there's ten tie done to it as there really is, and it's next to nothing Five shi+llings would ot two-and-fourpence-halfpenny at home; but it's a bother, for I wanted to send and buy so very old”

”Well, I'll pay all,” said Mike ”I've got six shi+llings saved up”

”No, that won't be fair,” said Vince; ”I want to pay as near half as I can”

”Well, but you want to buy some hooks and lines, and I shall use those as much as I like”

”Of course,” said Vince, as Mike followed his exa up at the blue sky overhead; ”but it won't be the same I helped poke the hole in the boat, and I e together, and then you'll have enough left to pay for the fishi+ng lines, and I can use them”

”Well, won't that be just the same?”

”No; of course not,” said Vince ”The lines will be yours, and you won't be able to bounce about, soed to pay forthe boat”

”Very well; have it that way,” said Mike

”And we ought to go over and see the old man, and tell hi He has found it out long enough ago

There was the sail rolled up anyhow, too I was too o and see him?”

”I dunno I don't want to move, and I don't want to have to tell hie as can be”

The boys lay perfectly still noithout speaking or ulls cas hanging over the cliff in a row, and then beca there at the edge; consequently they sailed about to and fro, with their grey backs shi+ning as they wheeled round and gazed inquiringly down, till one, bolder than the rest, alighted about a dozen yards away

”Keep your eyes shut, Ladle,” said Vince ”Birds are co to peck 'em out”