10 
HARDY FERNS. 
But liow to get at it ? 
Mounting as high as I dared on a tidy ledge till 
hat and chin peered over the projecting rock, 
steadying myself with one hand, with the other I 
hoisted up the hamhoo, and hegan a sort of sky 
fishing, maldng desperate jerks to reach my object, 
when suddenly there boomed on my ear like a 
cannon, ''Bless my soul, madam, you'll be killed ! 
Hold on till I come." But who was '' I " ? Just 
rounding the cliff came a little boat, and in it a 
gentleman, a lady, and a sailor. Stout and ruddy 
against the blue sky showed they as I sighted 
them over the point. The situation " was not 
exactly happy, but with a firm hold I was master 
of it. The party landed. The gentleman bowed, 
and asked leave to take my place ; but even then 
we were but a few inches nearer the Fern. Then 
the sailor came, and, like Csesar, saw and con- 
quered. '' Yes, yes," he said. Sure she's high, 
but I'll get her. May I stand on your shoulder, 
sir?" In a moment the boatman was on the 
stranger's arm, chnging to a scrap of rock. A 
