Mr Temple had indicated that he would like to examine the rocks here and there, and hence it was that the boat was taken so far in, where the rowing was more arduous, and the risks greater of being overturned upon some rock that was one minute submerged, the next level with the water.
Josh was too clever a boatman, though, for any such accident to occur, and he ran the little craft here and there most cleverly among the rocks; and, clearing the broken water, backing in for Mr Temple and Dick to land, and rowing out again till they were ready to leap on board once more.
For though, to use Josh’s expression, the sea was “like ile” fifty yards out, it was fretting and working incessantly amongst the rocks, and running up rifts and chasms to come back in foam.
One landing of this kind seemed to excite a desire for more, and, hammer in hand, Mr Temple was as busy as could be breaking “the gashly rocks,” as Josh expressed it in rather a pitying tone of voice to Will. So search after search was made, Dick scrambling up the most difficult places he could see, and seeming to find the most intense enjoyment in perching upon some narrow ledge, with his feet dangling over the side, though what the pleasure was he would have found it hard to say.
“There,” said Mr Temple at last, as he and Dick leaped on board once more, “go on, or we shall see no seals to-day. It is not fair to you boys.”
“Oh! I like scrambling about the rocks, father,” cried Dick; “it’s poor Taff who misses the fun.”
“I can enjoy seeing you climb,” said Arthur sedately.
“Yes,” said his father shortly, “I have no doubt it is pleasant to look on; but is it not rather too ladylike a pursuit for a boy like you?”
Arthur coloured highly, and glanced forward to see if the rowers had heard; but he was relieved, for it was evident that they were too much occupied in circumventing the submerged rocks to pay any heed to the conversation, and the lad heaved a sigh full of content.
A couple of hours’ hard rowing brought them to the mouth of the seal-cave, which, as they approached, looked far larger than it had seemed before when the sea was higher, for it generally nearly covered it, and at certain times completely closed it in.