The Obstacle Race

d broke in a million sparkles against a shelf of shingle. Above the shing

stranger, "this is ju

abilities of these creatures, and till he knew more he deemed it advisable to let them pass without interference. A canny Scot was Columbus, and it was very seldom indeed that anyone ever got the bet

f his interest. Suddenly the scuttling crab disappeared and he started up with a whine. In a moment he wa

Columbus! Don't! You're burying me alive! Do sit down and be sens

th a grunt into the hole he had made. His mistress

ed. "The simple life doesn't include luxuries of this sort.

t over the empty, tumbling sea-grey eyes very level in their regard under black

ections. "By this time tomorrow I shan't have one left. Just think of that, my Christo

ats, cigarette smoke did not appeal to him. His mistre

g to eke out a modest living in cigarettes and chocolates. I can't subsist on Mr. Ric

er hands were clasped about her knees, delicate hands that yet looked capable. The lips t

her crowd off our visiting-list for some time to come. I don't suppose any of them will miss us much, do you, old chap? They'll just go on round and round in the old eternal waltz and never realize that it leads t

hion on account of the smoke; after which, as she seemed to have nothing further to

ngle below her. She finished her cigarette and seemed to doze. A brisk wind was blowing from the shore, bu

of life among the grass-grown cliffs, save where Columbus some little distance away was digging industriously at the root of a small bush. She searched the fringe of flaming gorse that overhung the top of the cliff immediately beh

another ten minutes of her delicious sun-bath ere she returned for the midday meal

er than the laughter of a hundred voices, better than the roar of a thousand wheels, better than the voice of

on to her hand-a round black stone dropped from nowhere but with strang

ng somewhere among the humps and clefts that constituted the rough surface of the cliff. She picked up her wal

scattered! Her cheek still smarted from the blow. She left the sea without a backward glance. She sent forth a shrill whistle to Columbu

did so! And in a moment, turning inwards from the sea, she caught sight of

climbing with a rapidity that swiftly cut off the landward line of retre

misshapen, grotesquely humped, possessing long thin arms of almost baboon-like proportions. The head was sunken into the shoulders. It was flung back and the face upraised-and it was the face that made her pause, for it was the most pathetic sight she had ever looked upon. It was the face of a lad of two or three and twenty

ficulty in grappling with the situation, but she had no intention of

e, with as much sternne

u throw tho

for there was a drop of twenty feet behind him on the shingle. But he must ha

he said quickly. "I'm

der drawn brows. "Yes, you are," he said gruff

hout humour. She smiled, and, turning, flung the sti

within a couple of yards of her, still lookin

formed that he looked like some dreadful beast reared on its hind legs there w

fact, however. "Tell me why yo

you," he returned with

adily. "How very unki

it wasn't. I didn't want you there. Dicky is coming s

peech, it was by no means the rough talk of the fisher-fo

u?" he reto

ou? But I don't mind telling you if you want to k

ully. "Juliet is a name

swering glimmer of amusement in his sullen fac

rsely he contradicted he

'm the vill

an!" she exclaimed a

and kicked him for it. Dicky caned me afterwards,-I'm not supposed

she asked again. Her

udden suspicion. "What

must be rather a b

sn't afraid of anything," he declared with pride. "H

," said Juliet, with

only person I love in the world," h

uick desire to laugh that caught her u

e's such a jolly little cuss." He smiled over the words, and again she fel

ven't made the baby's acquaintance yet. I must get myself introduced. You haven'

enewed suspicion. "Hasn

t?" h

hy, I don't know anyb

more interesting to h

, but was finally disarmed by the kin

uliet said. "And you live h

Dicky in the garden. And I look after Mrs. Rickett's baby sometimes when

rth doing, I am afraid," she said. "I can't mend nets. I d

ere do you come from?

r. "And I'm tired of it. I'm very tired of it. So I've co

ondon!" He gaz

et spoke with absolute

e likes it

nion who now came hastening u

kwardly and laid a fondling hand u

cketts', so when you come to see the baby, I hope you will come to

ungainly movement, and raised a hand to

to depart, but he spok

s

back. "Yes?

grass in embarrassment and murm

n, encouragingly, as if she

"I say," he said, with obvious effort, "if-if yo

of course not! I'm not that sort of person. But the next time you want

slow voice of hers had a curious effect upon her h

of you! You're kind! I l

ing oddly moved herself. "In that case, we a

g up her stick from the path and turning

standing-a squat, fantastic figure like a goblin out of a fairy-tal

his long arms and saluted her again in ans

ionately. "Poor ruined child! Co

little eyes and wagged a smiling t