Washed Ashore | Page 8

losing patience, dashed into the water himself, and hooking him
through the jacket by the iron hook which he had fixed to the end of his
stump, dragged him across, not, however, without having to swim a
short distance, and consequently giving poor Stephen a thorough
wetting. They had two places of the same character to pass through, but
by the exertions of Tom, Stephen, more frightened than hurt, was at
length landed safely on the dry beach, and was able to accompany him
on foot up to the tower. On their way Tom told him that he had seen
him go down, and hearing from a fishwife the direction he had taken,
he had come after him to bring him back. On his reaching the tower,
Stephen was carried into a room which had never been used since its
last occupant, poor Jack, had slept in it; and while his own clothes were
drying, others were given him that he might appear at dinner. He
guessed at once to whom they had belonged. Tears came into Mrs
Askew's eyes when she saw him, and Margery treated him with more
gentleness than she was accustomed to do, forsooth to say, she had
generally very little patience with him, he was so far behind her idea of
what a boy ought to be. She thanked him again for the book; she had
read a few pages and found them very interesting, but would tell him
more about her opinion when they next met, and she had read it
through. Stephen described the appearance of the face in the cliff, and
what the girl he had met had said to him. The captain seemed to think
that the face might have been in his fancy, but he was puzzled to
account for the girl being where he found her, and not wishing to
accompany him, as it was evident that she must have known of some

way up from the beach. The captain got a hint which he resolved to
make use of as opportunity should occur.
Margery ran off as soon as dinner was over to read more of the book
Stephen had lent her, and when she returned to the sitting-room to wish
him good-bye, as he was about to leave on his return home, she told
him that it was a delightful book, and that she was sure she should like
it better than any she had ever read. Stephen did not appear at all the
worse for his ducking and fright. Tom brought his pony round to the
door, and as he helped him to mount, he advised him to hurry
home.--"A storm's brewing, young gentleman, d'ye see, and a wetting
with fresh water will do ye more harm than the one with salt ye got this
forenoon," he remarked.
"I don't just want to be reminded of that," answered Stephen, in a tone
which showed his annoyance. "But if there is rain coming, I think I had
better."
"Put spurs to your pony, Master Ludlow, and get home as fast as you
can," said the captain, who at that moment appeared at the door.
Stephen took the observation as a hint to him to be off, and he was too
proud, fancying this, to return into the house as he was about to do.
"Ah!--he'll never be what our Jack was," sighed Tom, as Stephen rode
off. Dark clouds were coming up thickly from the south-west, the
advanced guard of a dense mass rising rapidly out of the horizon.
Stephen, looking round occasionally to see if the clouds were likely to
overtake him, galloped on down the steep path which led from the
tower to the more level country over which his road lay. He had not
gone far when the voice of some one from behind a hedge cried out,
"Who goes there? Stop, I charge you!"
Stephen was at first not a little alarmed, but directly afterwards he saw
Blind Peter, the pedlar, emerge from his concealment, led by his little
dog. Stephen had known Blind Peter all his life, and as soon as he saw
him he answered, "I am Stephen Ludlow. What do you want?"

"I warn you that you are in danger, young gentleman," said Blind Peter.
"I have been waiting for you all the morning. I thought that I should
know the tread of your pony's hoof, with your light weight on his back.
Don't go back the way you came, or evil may come of it. Take the
round by Fairleigh farm. Be advised, young sir, be advised."
Stephen was timid, but he was obstinate, and as the rain was likely
soon to fall he was in a hurry to get home. He therefore was disinclined
to believe Blind Peter. "For what