Bluff Crag | Page 6

her, don't mention
Patrick's name; you needn't be getting him always into a scrape by your
tale-telling.'
"'O Alfred, how cruel you are,' said Vea, 'when you know I am always
trying to get you boys out of scrapes!' and the tears rose to her eyes.
"'Very well, then, I won't,' said Alfred; 'you are a dear, good little sister,
and we do bother you tremendously sometimes. Stay you here, and I
will ask aunt to let us go to the beach.'
"Alfred soon returned, stating that his aunt had said Yes at once to his
request; 'But,' he added, laughing, 'I think she did not know very well
what she was saying, she was so busy talking to the rector.'
"Natilie was quite willing to accompany us, and very soon we were
down on the beach; but whichever way we looked we could not see any
trace of the missing Patrick. All of a sudden Alfred gave a shout, and
pointed in the direction of some great high rocks upon which stood a
light-house.
"'See, Vea, there is Wild Dick running upon the rocks!' cried Alfred
excitedly.

"'Where?' said Vea, standing on tip-toe, and straining her head forward
towards the place Alfred was pointing out.
"'I see von boy,' said Natilie, in her strange broken English. 'Him not be
Master Patrick. I know him now for that same wicked boy Mrs.
Berkley forbid you speak to.'
"'But I tell you Patrick is with him,' said Alfred, showing he knew more
about his brother's movements than he had owned at first. 'Dick offered
to help him to find some sea-birds' eggs, and they have gone off to get
them now.'
"At this moment the boy called Dick observed us, and as soon as he did
so he began to make signs in a most excited manner to us to hasten.
[Illustration: WILD DICK.]
"'There has been some accident to Master Patrick, I much fear,' said
Natilie, beginning to run. 'Oh, when will that boy be good?'
"On coming closer to Dick, it soon became evident that an accident had
really happened; and in a few moments more they learned that the
unfortunate Patrick, in climbing the rocks, had lost his footing, and had
fallen down from a considerable height.
"'I think he's broken his leg, miss,' said Dick to Vea. 'And how he is to
be taken out of that 'ere hole he has fallen into, is what I'd like very
much to know.'
"'Do show us where he is, Dick,' said Vea. 'Oh, be quick; he may die if
his leg is not attended to at once!'
"It was no easy matter to scramble over the stony beach to the place
where Patrick was lying; and rather a pitiable sight it was to see him
with his leg doubled under him, and with a face so very pale that it was
no wonder Vea cried out with pure horror, for she evidently thought he
was going to faint, or die altogether, perhaps.

"'Oh, what shall we do?' cried Vea. 'How are we to get him up? and
how are we to get him carried home?'
"'I would not have you distress yourself so, Miss Vea,' said Natilie. 'I
think I can get him out of this difficulty, with very little patience, if we
could get him carried home.'
"'If you get him out of the hole he has fallen into,' said Dick, 'I will
manage the rest.'
"'But how can you carry him over such a rough beach?' asked Alfred.
"'I will get the boat from my grandfather,' replied Dick, 'and we can
row him round to the harbour, where the men can help us up to the
house with him.'
"'Oh yes, that will be the plan,' said Vea. 'Do run, like a good boy, and
get the boat; I am sure your grandfather will be very glad to lend it to
us, for Patrick was always a favourite with him.'
"'And I know somebody who is a greater favourite than even Master
Patrick,' replied Dick, smiling, before he hurried away towards his
grandfather's house.
"Very soon, though it seemed a long time to Vea, Dick was plainly
seen shoving out the boat from the shore, with the assistance of two
boys, who then jumped in and rowed it round as close to where Patrick
lay as they possibly could.
"Natilie had by this time managed to get Patrick up out of the sort of
hole he had fallen into, and by our united efforts we at last succeeded in
getting him into the boat, where we all helped to support him, as he had
fainted away again. It was considered advisable to row to Dick's
grandfather's house for the present; and accordingly the boat was
steered for a cove,