"I set out one day to gather shells—for that was a wonderful place for shells—and the gentry as came to the village hard by, used often to buy them from us. I wasn't going alone. I took with me my brother, poor Sam."
"He and I went together, each with a bag to hold the shells, which was hung by a long string round our necks, so as to leave our hands quite free. The last thing our mother said to us afore we started was this, 'Mind, lads, and don't go too far; for the tide is on the turn, and the waves be running high, and if ye go as far as High cliff, there's danger that ye both may be drowned.'"
"'No fear, mother!' said I; 'even if the tide should come in upon us, I reckon that I'm active and strong enough to climb to the top of the cliff; but I could not say as much for Sam, with his weak arms and the swelling on his ankle, I know he has no chance of climbing, so I'll keep out of harm's way for his sake.'"
"'And for your own, too, Peter,' said Sam, as we walked along the beach together; 'you are strong and active, to be sure, but you are no more able than I be, to climb up such a mighty high cliff.'"
"'There may be two opinions as to that,' said I, for I had a great notion of my own powers, and prided myself on being agile as a goat on the rocks. Well," pursued the blind pauper, "we had plenty of luck that day in finding shells on the shore; both of us filled our bags, and we were so eager and pleased with our success, that we wandered on farther and farther, and scarce gave a thought to the tide, till we saw the white creamy foam tossed on the sand from the waves that came rolling and tumbling in shore, and we looked up and saw the great white cliff rising high and bluff before us!"
"'I say, Sam,' cried I, 'just see how the tide's coming in! 'Tis time for us to make the best of our way back to mother!'"
"My brother turned white as a sheet. ''Tis too late for that,' said he, giving a wildered gaze at the waste of heaving billows. For the coast just there made a bend like a crescent, and though we stood upon dry land still, the white-topped waves, both afore and ahind us, were rolling right up to the cliff! Where we had walked dry-shod not an hour before, there was nothing to be seen but the waters which soon would cover the place where we were!"
"'What's to be done!' cried my brother, as he looked up at the great rocky wall before us.
"'Keep a good heart!' said I, 'I'll climb up to the top o' the cliff, and then I'll get help and a rope, and we'll draw you up to safety.'"
"So I put down my bag, and I pulled off my jacket, for it was clear enough that I could not climb with them. I knew well, though I didn't choose to say it, that it would be hard work to get to the top of so high and steep a cliff; but I did not know, I would not believe that it was impossible for me to do so. By dint of straining every muscle, clasping, clutching at every jutting crag or little rock-plant that offered a hold, I managed to struggle up a few yards. But the way grew steeper and harder. I could scarcely find place for my foot, or hold for my hand; the earth was slipping beneath me! I panted—I gasped—I strained—feeling myself falling, I tried, with a violent effort, to catch hold of a little stump that secured to be just beyond my reach. I caught it, but lost my footing—hung for a moment by one hand, then the stump gave way, and with a cry of fear I fell heavily down the rock!"