Letting himself
down by his hands, he alighted upon something that crunched beneath
his tread, and found the bones of many small animals scattered about
in front of a little cave in the rock, offering the refuge he
sought, He went in, and sat upon a stone. The storm increased in
violence, and as the darkness grew he became uneasy, for he did not
relish the thought of spending the night in the cave. He had parted
from his companions on the opposite side of the island, and it added
to his uneasiness that they must be full of apprehension about him.
At last there came a lull in the storm, and the same instant he
heard a footfall, stealthy and light as that of a wild beast, upon
the bones at the mouth of the cave. He started up in some fear,
though the least thought might have satisfied him that there could
be no very dangerous animals upon the island. Before he had time to
think, however, the face of a woman appeared in the opening.
Eagerly the wanderer spoke. She started at the sound of his voice.
He could not see her well, because she was turned towards the
darkness of the cave.
'"Will you tell me how to find my way across the moor to Shielness?"
he asked.
'"You cannot find it to-night," she answered, in a sweet tone, and
with a smile that bewitched him, revealing the whitest of teeth.
'"What am I to do, then?" he asked.
'"My mother will give you shelter, but that is all she has to
offer."
'"And that is far more than I expected a minute ago," he replied.
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