And then Phil came back, and led the way down to the sandy bay beneath by means of a steep narrow path not known to many save the fisher-people of that coast.
The boat came in a little while after they had reached the shore, and the hampers of good things were landed; and a capital picnic they all had sitting on the smooth white sand beneath the shadow of the jagged cliffs.
Uncle Fred was a capital companion for children, and was coaxed into telling stories of his adventures by land and sea, to which they all listened with undivided attention, although many of them had heard the best stories again and again. Time sped away “twice too fast,” as Phil declared, and it was time to go long before anybody wanted to move.
Phil, however, had made good use of his time, and had found out from David a good deal about sea-gulls and their habits. The fisherman’s boy knew a great deal about the ways of the wild creatures of the coast, and could answer all Phil’s questions in a very satisfactory way.
When the boat had started off, Phil turned to Queenie and said,—
“We needn’t go for half an hour yet. I want to try my hand at climbing.”
“So do I!” cried Bertie, eagerly; and Queenie told how Bertie had been let into the plan and had promised to keep the secret.
“All right!” cried Phil; “I think Bertie’s safe enough. Now for a little practice.”
The boys threw off their jackets and began climbing the craggy face of the cliff. It was hard work, and it cut their hands a little; but they found it quite possible, with pains and caution, to mount from one ledge to another, and also to descend again, though this was by no means so easy. Queenie watched them eagerly and approvingly, and was obliged to admit that Bertie was not at all nervous or timid in climbing, and was quite as clever and agile as Phil.
They had not time to do much climbing to-day, however, but they satisfied themselves that the face of the cliff did not present any very terrible difficulties, and they determined to ride over by themselves soon and have another preparatory scramble.