"
"That will never do," Frank said; "as the waves come in they will
rush up and fill it to the top. Don't you see it is all rounded by
the water? Now, Childers, we will put you on that stone. You will
be perfectly safe there, for you see it is two feet above this
greenish line, which shows where the water generally comes to.
The tides are not at spring at present, so though you may get a
splashing there is no fear of your being washed off."
The water was already knee deep at the foot of the rocks, and the
waves took them nearly up to the shoulders. Ruthven did not attempt
to dispute Frank's allotment of the one place of safety to Childers.
Frank and he placed themselves below the block of chalk, which was
somewhat over six feet from the ground. Then Childers scrambled up
on to their shoulders, and from these stepped onto the ledge.
"I am all right," he said; "I wish to Heaven that you were too."
"We shall do," Frank said. "Mind you hold tight, Childers! You had
better turn round with your face to the cliff, so as to be able to
grip hold and steady yourself in case the waves come up high. The
tide will turn in three quarters of an hour at the outside. Now,
then, Ruthven, let's make a fight for it, old man.
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