WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN. 137 



lad, I mistrusts the look on it, I do ; an' if you 

 was to ask me why, I could no more tell ye than 

 my spannel here at heel." 



"Perhaps ye ain't quite yerself — craft gits out o' 

 gear at times, as we all know. The wear and tear on 

 it all does it ; 'taint in reason but what it will come 

 to be so. Here's the mixter, pull at it." 



"No, Reef, 'taint that, and thank ye all the same, 

 but I've got my own ager mixter. Let's git the nets 

 set, fur no matter how you feels, jawin' niver got 

 a job done yit; not as iver you waste words, old 

 lad. You take the upper nets, Reef, me an' the 

 spannel will git down to the lower end, an' work 

 up to meet ye." 



"All right, Spank; o' course you knows as bits 

 o' them sands is shifty." 



" Yes, I know all about 'em, sail on." 



Oh, how little it takes for things to go wrong ! 

 When the sun dipped, a breeze sprang up that soon 

 was whistling half a gale, and the tide was making 

 in over the sands at mill-race speed. Reef hailed 

 his mate, and was hailed back by him ; but as Reef 

 made his way to shore and waited for Spank to 

 come, instead of his master, the dog rushed up 



