“How far are we from the rocks?” asked Charlie.
“I can’t say; a quarter of an hour, perhaps.”
“Whereabouts are we?” I asked.
“When the lights went out we were opposite Raven Cliff,” replied Hall.
We were silent for another minute; then Hall took out his watch.
“Eight o’clock,” said he.
“They’ll be at prayers at Parkhurst,” said Charlie; and in the silence that followed, need I say that we too joined as we had never done before in the evening prayers of our schoolfellows?
“Charlie, old boy,” said Hall, presently, “come and sit beside me, will you?”
Poor Hall! had it been only his own life that was at stake, he would never have flinched a muscle; but as he put his arm round the boy whom he had led into danger he groaned pitiably.
“I wonder if Neil’s out looking for us,” Hutton said from the bows.