I was so faint and exhausted that I yielded, and we three lads made a tremendous meal, to Mother Bonnet’s great delight.
This ended, the inclination was upon us all to go fast asleep after the broken night we had passed; but Bigley jumped up and led the way to the door.
“Come along,” he said. “The cutter will be back soon to clear off the cargo, and I want to hear what they say.”
He walked out and we followed him to the beach, which was quite deserted; and we three lads began to walk up and down, too much excited to feel sleepy now, and kept on gazing out to sea for the returning cutter.
Chapter Thirty Five.
Bigley does not Think his Father is a Dog.
We went up to the cottage two or three times, to find Mother Bonnet keeping up the fire and the table laid for a second supper; and then we went back to the beach.
Everything was perfectly still. The mine people had long before gone to bed, but we watched on, feeling sure that something was going to happen; and so it was that about half-past twelve we heard oars, and soon after made out a boat which was being pulled by four men, while as soon as we were seen a voice cried from the boat: