CHAPTER ONE

y!"hecried,sobbingthewordsoutonthecrestofeachgaspingbreath. Thewavescameroundher.Shewasarock.Shewascoveredwiththeseaweedwhichpopswhenitispressed.Hewaslost. Therehestood.Hisfacecomposeditself.Hewasabouttoroarwhen,lyingamongtheblacksticksandstrawunderthecliff,hesawawholeskull—perhapsacow'sskull,askull,perhaps,withtheteethinit.Sobbing,butabsent-mindedly,heranfartherandfartherawayuntilheheldtheskullinhisarms. "Thereheis!"criedMrs.Flanders,comingroundtherockandcoveringthewholespaceofthebeachinafewseconds."Whathashegotholdof?Putitdown,Jacob!Dropitthismoment!Somethinghorrid,Iknow.Whydidn'tyoustaywithus?Naughtylittleboy!Nowputitdown.Nowcomealongbothofyou,"andshesweptround,holdingArcherbyonehandandfumblingforJacob'sarmwiththeother.Butheduckeddownandpickedupthesheep'sjaw,whichwasloose. Swingingherbag,clutchingherparasol,holdingArcher'shand,andtellingthestoryofthegunpowderexplosioninwhichpoorMr.Curnowhadlosthiseye,Mrs.Flandershurriedupthesteeplane,awareallthetimeinthedepthsofhermindofsomeburieddiscomfort. Thereonthesandnotfarfromtheloverslaytheoldsheep'sskullwithoutitsjaw.Clean,white,wind-swept,sand-rubbed,amoreunpollutedpieceofboneexistednowhereonthecoastofCornwall.Theseahollywouldgrowthroughtheeye-socketsitwouldturntopowder,orsomegolfer,hittinghisballonefineday,woulddispersealittledust—No,butnotinlodgings,thoughtMrs.Flanders.It'sagreatexperimentcomingsofarwithyoungchildren.There'snomantohelpwiththeperambulator.AndJacobissuchahandfulsoobstinatealready. "Throwitaway,dear,do,"shesaid,astheygotintotheroadbutJacobsquirmedawayfromherandthewindrising,shetookoutherbonnet-pin,lookedatthesea,andstuckitinafresh.Thewindwasrising.Thewavesshowedthatuneasiness,likesomethingalive,restive,expectingthewhip,ofwavesbeforeastorm.Thefishing-boatswereleaningtothewater'sbrim.Apaleyellowlightshotacrossthepurpleseaandshut.Thelighthousewaslit."Comealong,"saidBettyFlanders.ThesunblazedintheirfacesandgildedthegreatblackberriestremblingoutfromthehedgewhichArchertriedtostripastheypassed. "Don'tlag,boys.You'vegotnothingtochangeinto,"saidBetty,pullingthemalong,andlookingwithuneasyemotionattheearthdisplayedsoluridly,withsuddensparksoflightfromgreenhousesingardens,withasortofyellowandblackmutability,againstthisblazingsunset,thisastonishingagitationandvitalityofcolour,whichstirredBettyFlandersandmadeherthinkofresponsibilityanddanger.Shegri