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with the two years old baby； and ending with gaining even the shy and
sturdy Robin； who could not hold out any longer； when it appeared that
Sir Guy could tell him the best place for finding sea…urchins； the
present objects of his affections。
'But we should have to go through the park；' said Edward；
disconsolately； when Guy had described the locality。
'Well； why not？'
'We must not go into the park！' cried the children； in chorus。
'Not go into the park！' exclaimed Guy； looking at Mrs。 Ashford； in
amazement； then； as it flashed on him that it was his part to give
leave； he added；'I did not know I was such a dog in the manger。 I
thought all the parish walked naturally in the park。 I don't know what
else it is good for。 If Markham will lock it up； I must tell him to
give you a key。'
The boys were to come the next dayto be shown the way to the bay of
urchins； and thenceforth they became his constant followers to such a
degree； that their parents feared they were very troublesome； but he
assured them to the contrary； and no mother in the world could have
found it in her heart to keep them away from so much happiness。 There
was continually a rushing home with a joyous outcry；'Mamma！ Sir Guy
gave me a ride on his horse！' 'Mamma！ Sir Guy helped us to the top of
that great rock！' 'Oh； papa！ Sir Guy says we may come out shooting
with him to…morrow； if you will let us！' 'Mamma！ papa！ look！ Do you
see？ I shot this rabbit my own self with Sir Guy's gun！' 'Papa！ papa！
Sir Guy showed us his boat； and he says he will take us out to the Shag
Rock； if you will give us leave！'
This was beyond what papa； still further beyond what mamma； could like；
since the sea was often very rough in parts near the Shag； there were a
good many sunken rocks； and boys； water； and rocks； did not appear by
any means a safe conjunction； so Mrs。 Ashford put the matter off for
the present by the unseasonableness of the weather； and Mr。 Ashford
asked one or two of the fishermen how far they thought landing on the
Shag a prudent attempt。
They did not profess to have often tried； they always avoided those
rocks； but it could hardly be very dangerous； they said； for when Sir
Guy was a boy； he used to be about there for ever； at first with an old
boatman； and afterwards alone in his little boat。 They had often
wondered he was trusted there； but if any one knew the rocks； he did。
Still； Mrs。 Ashford could not make up her mind to like the idea； and
the boys came to Sir Guy in a state of great discomposure。
'Never mind' he said； 'perhaps we shall manage it in the summer。 We
will get your father to go out with us himself； and； in the meantime；
who likes to come with me after the rabbits in Cliffstone Copse？
Farmer Holt will thank Robin for killing a dozen or so； for he makes
grievous complaints of them。'
Guy conducted the boys out of sight of the sea； and； to console them；
gave them so much more use of the gun than usual； that it might be
considered as a wonder that he escaped being shot。 Yet it did not
prevent a few sighs being spent on the boating。
'Can't you forget it？' said Guy； smiling。 'You have no loss； after
all； for we are likely to have no boating weather this long time。
Hark！ don't you hear the ground…swell？'
'What's that？' said the boys； standing still to listen to the distant
surge； like a continuous low moan； or roar； far； far away； though there
was no wind； and the sea was calm。
'It is the sound that comes before stormy weather；' said Guy。 'It is
as if the sea was gathering up its forces for the tempest。'
'But what？how？ Tell me what it really is；' said Robin。
'I suppose it is the wind on the sea before it has reached us；' said
Guy。 'How solemn it is！'
Too solemn for the boys； who began all manner of antics and noises； by
way of silencing the impression of awfulness。 Guy laughed； and joined
in their fun； but as soon as they were gone home； he stood in silence
for a long time； listening to the sound； and recalling the mysterious
dreams and fancies with which it was connected in his boyhood； and
which he had never wished thus to drive away。
The storm he had predicted came on； and by the evening of the following
day； sea and wind were thundering； in their might； against the foot of
the crags。 Guy looked from the window； the last thing at night； and
saw the stars twinkling overhead； with that extreme brilliancy which is
often seen in the intervals of fitful storms； and which suggested
thoughts that sent him to sleep in a vague； soothing dream。
He was wakened by one tremendous continued roar of sea； wind； and
thunder combined。 Such was the darkness； that he could not see the
form of the window； till a sheet of pale blue lightning brought it
fully out for the moment。 He sat up； and listened to the 'glorious
voice' that followed it； thought what an awful night at sea； and
remembered when he used to fancy it would be the height of felicity to
have a shipwreck at Redclyffe； and shocked Mrs。 Bernard by inhuman
wishes that a ship would only come and be wrecked。 How often had he
watched； through sounds like these； for a minute gun！ Nay； he had once
actually called up poor Arnaud in the middle of the night for an
imaginary signal。 Redclyffe Bay was a very dangerous one； a fine place
for a wreck； with its precipitous crags； its single safe landing…place；
and the great Shag Stone； on the eastern side； with a whole progeny of
nearly sunken rocks； dreaded in rough weather by the fishermen
themselves； but it was out of the ordinary track of vessels； and there
were only a few traditions of terrible wrecks long before his time。
It seemed as if he had worked up his fancy again； for the sound of a
gun was for a moment in his ear。 It was lost in the rush of hail
against the window； and the moaning of the wind round the old house；
but presently it returned too surely to be imaginary。 He sprang to the
window； and the broad； flickering glare of lightning revealed the black
cliff and pale sea…line； then all was dark and still； while the storm
was holding its breath for the thunder…burst which in a few more
seconds rolled overhead； shaking door and window throughout the house。
As the awful sound died away； in a moment's lull； came the gun again。
He threw up the window； and as the blast of wind and rain swept howling
into the room； it brought another report。
To close the window； light his candle； throw on his clothes； and hasten
down…stairs； was the work of a very few seconds。 Luckily； the key of
the boat…house was lying on the table in the hall； where he had left
it； after showing the boat to the Ashford boys； he seized it； caught up
the pocket telescope； put on a rough coat； and proceeded to undo the
endless fastenings of the hall…door； a very patience…trying occupation；
and； when complet