"Now I must draw it off, dear; but we will soon bathe it with sea-water, and then it will be better."
As she spoke she tenderly, but firmly, drew off the boot. "There," she said reassuringly, at the cry of agony which escaped the child, "now it will be easier."
When, however, she looked up in her sister's face, she found she had fainted.
The candles had by this time gone out, and though they could not see either the sky or sea, they were near enough to the mouth of the cave to distinguish all around them.
"Shall I run and get some water?" asked George.
"She could not drink that," said Hope, "of course; but what a pity we did not bring any with us."
They laid Alice down, and Nellie examined the wounded foot.
"How did she do it?" Hope asked.
"We none of us know exactly; but she slipped off that ledge."
"She will be better soon," said Nellie; "but see how her foot is swelling up! Don't you think we might pour some sea-water over it?"