Beryl little thought that "that horrid Percy" was even then within sound of her voice. They were passing a mass of rocks which shelved away from the side of the cliff, and as Beryl ended, Coral exclaimed, "Hush! Didn't you hear some one call?"
As they waited in silence for a few moments, their ears caught the sound of a faint "Hallo!" which seemed to come from behind one of the rocks.
"What's the matter? Who's there?" called Beryl, as she advanced towards the spot whence the sound came.
"Come here, Beryl," said the voice in reply.
"I believe it's that horrid boy," said Beryl in a tone of annoyance. "And yet it does not sound quite like his voice. I dare say it's some stupid trick of his."
Advancing cautiously round the rock, they soon saw that Beryl was not mistaken in imagining that the voice was Percy's. But he had not the appearance of one playing a trick. He was lying on the stones beneath the cliff, his clothes strewn with dust and fragments of rock, and his face utterly colourless.
"Oh, what is the matter?" exclaimed Beryl. "Have you fallen?"
"Yes, I was trying to climb the cliff, and the path gave way beneath me," said Percy faintly. "Give me your arm, will you, Beryl, and I will try to raise myself?"
Beryl willingly gave him all the help she could, and he dragged himself up into a sitting posture, but turned so sick and faint in consequence, that he was obliged to lean against the child for support. All the tenderness of Beryl's nature came out now. She forgot that it was her tormentor who was brought thus low. Kneeling by his side, she made Percy lean his head upon her shoulder, whilst she gently wiped the perspiration from his forehead.
"Are you in pain?" she asked.