REFUGE COVE 201. 



tidal. They bladderheads, what brings a jar to 

 sea, hain't smart 'nuff for to use 'em.' 



With a scrape on the rocks, I pulled and 

 pushed the boat out, not any too soon; and 

 while I rowed on down to Refuge Cove, Benjie 

 hopped along under cliff, pouncing on jetsam like 

 a hungry bird, at times hardly distinguishable 

 upon the shore he has grown so to resemble. 

 Gulls flew round about him and circled over the 

 weather-beaten rocks from which the land has 

 fallen away, not uttering their angry or frightened 

 cries — they know Benjie too well — but mewing as 

 they will also do, over the sea when shoals of fish 

 are about, and over land when a storm is brewing. 



At Refuge Cove we beached and hauled the 

 boat up. Benjie flung his bag over his shoulder. 

 'Now for It!' said he. 'Lord Runkum an't 

 forgot Refuge Cove an' Benjie, that I can see. My 

 senses, what a shackle must ha' been here ! 'Tis 

 an ill wind that don't blow me no good somehow.' 



The farther west one goes in our bay, the 

 quicker and higher an easterly sea rises; hence, 

 possibly, the almost superstitious dread that exists 

 of going west when the wind is, or Is likely to be, 

 east; for in addition to finding oneself to lee- 

 ward, the worst seas have to be encountered 



