There was little doubt but that the Vicar's son was safe, for he could now be heard calling—
"Man Friday, Man Friday, I won't come till you find Friday."
The Vicar said afterwards that he rushed up the steps, and almost fell over the outstretched legs of the little boy, who was sleeping as comfortably wrapped in Eliza's frock as if he was in his own cot at home. He picked up the precious bundle, and would have gone out by the cliff entrance, but saw that it was blocked by the fall of sand; and he was just turning to go down again, when Eustace, rousing sufficiently to know that he was being carried in somebody's arms, began to kick and struggle and call for "Man Friday."
He looked round, thinking there might be another child; but, seeing Eliza's hat, he concluded she must be Friday, and by that time the boy was sufficiently awake to recognize his father, and tell him Lila was with him.
"My darling! my darling!" was all he could say as he kissed the child again and again while carrying him downstairs to the cave.
But at the sight of it being empty and the waste of waters all round, the little fellow almost sprang out of his father's arms.
"Dadda, dadda," he cried, "we can't go without Friday! See, I have got her frock to keep me warm."
"Hush, dear, hush! Eliza is safe. Do you think I would leave the girl who forgot herself to make you warm and comfortable?"
For answer Eustace kissed his father; but he was not satisfied until he saw the blue bundle being carried in the arms of the fisherman, and was told that that was Man Friday being carried to the boat that they could see approaching them in the distance.
Evidently Eustace was very little the worse for his adventure, for as his father waded through the water murmuring thanksgivings to God for his boy's escape, he was telling his father, as graphically as he could, how he was Robinson Crusoe and Lila his Man Friday; and how they had gone along the beach in search of the cave his father had showed him the year before; and how they had climbed to the top, and sat out on the heath to have their tea.