"No, sir; I was in the cave for something else. I was down seeking for Thora."
"For Thora? What's that--some sort of birds?"
"Birds! No; for the lass that was lost in the snow yestreen."
"Queer place to look for a lass, that, I must say! But how did you get there if you did not go round with Kinlay?"
"I climbed down the cliff, sir."
"Come, come, none of your nonsense!" said the officer. "Don't tell me you climbed down that cliff. I know it's impossible."
"It's not impossible," I rejoined, "for I have climbed it many a time before."
"Well, it's to be hoped the girl was worth risking your neck for. However, as you did not find her after all, you deserve to get off, to look for her in a more likely place."
Then turning to the seaman he said:
"Off with the irons, Gillions, and put the youngster ashore when the anchor's down."