in REGRETS 143 



ing, an' I'd give all I got for to hae her back again. 

 Lord ! the catches we've a-brought home In her 

 afore now — more In a week than thic there's ever 

 catched in a season. Perty li'l boat, her was; 

 handy, an' swimmed like a duck; would carry a 

 weight In her, too. I only wish her was back again.' 



Benjie picked pebbles out of the beach, 

 moistening them with his tongue to see what sorts 

 they were. He held out one, saying, 'Moss- 

 agate !' and without another word threw the 

 moss-agate Into the sea. The old Henrietta was 

 In his mind. 



Whilst the sun was setting In a haze behind 

 Steep Head, the sea's laughter changed to grey- 

 ness. Its joyfulness Into savagery. Clouds that 

 had for some time been lying along the horizon 

 began to lift Into the sky. 'They've hauled 

 down,' said Benjie, shading his eyes against the 

 glint of sunset on the water. 'I can't see nort 

 but their mizzen. They must be shooting their 

 nets b' now. Better if they'd a-turned home wl'out 

 shooting o'em. — There !' he exclaimed, 'did 'ee 

 see thIc? Lightning! Down there to the sou'- 

 west. There 'tis again, up over land ! Aye, 'tis 

 gathering up. See how this here lop's making. 

 I wish they was ashore. 'TIs time.' 



