86 GARIIYOWEN 



" Well, when we get back then? " said the 

 amorous one. 



" Yes." 



" And you won't tell Michael? " 



"No, no, no!" 



" On your word of honour? " 



" Yes." 



" Swear by all's blue." 



" Yes." 



" But that's not swearing." 



" I don't know what all's blue is — ouch! " 



The boat, drifting, had drifted up against the 

 wall of the cave, and the swell, which had a rise 

 and fall of eighteen inches or more, was grinding 

 the starboard thwart lovingly against the seaweed 

 and rock. 



' ' I swear by all's blue ! ' ' shrieked the girl. ' ' Any- 

 thing! Quick! Push her oS, or we'll be over." 



" Faith, and that was a near shave," said Mr 

 Giveen, shoving the boat off with an oar. 



He got the sculls in the rowlocks, and a few 

 strokes brought them out under the arch into day- 

 light again. 



" Mind, you've sworn," said Mr Giveen, who 

 evidently had a very present and wholesome dread 

 of his cousin, Michael French. 



" Don't speak to me," rephed his charge, whose 

 lips were dry, but whose terror had now, on finding 

 herself in comparative safety, turned into burning 

 wrath. " Don't speak to me, you coward! You 

 — ^you beast — or I'll hit you with this." 



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