A. T. Quiller-Couch

“ The sand was closing around Taffy's legs, but he managed to shift his footing a little.
"Quick, then; the bank's breaking up."
George was sinking, knee-deep and deeper. But his outstretched fingers managed to reach and hook themselves around the crutch-head.
"Steady, now ... must work you loose first. Get hold of the shaft if you can: the head isn't firm. Work your legs ... that's it."
George wrenched his left foot loose and planted it against the mare's flank. Hitherto she had trusted her master. ”

“ A man beside Taffy declared he could see something—the faint glow of a binnacle lamp as she stood away. Taffy could see nothing. The voice ahead began to speak again. The Vicar, pausing now and again to make sure of his path, was reading from a page which he held close to his lantern.
"Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
"Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive ”

“ They began to shuffle forwards and up the difficult track; but presently came to a halt with one accord, the Vicar ceasing in the middle of a sentence.
Out of the night, over the hidden sea, came the sound of men's voices lifted, thrilling the darkness thrice: the sound of three British cheers. ”

“ He's wandered off!"
"Hush up, woman," said a bearer. "Don't keep such a pore!"
"The cheeld's right enough somewheres," said another. "’Tis a man's body we've got. Stand out of the way, for shame!"
But Lizzie, who as a rule shrank away from men and kept herself hidden, pressed nearer, turning her tragical face upon each in turn. Her eyes met George's, but she appealed to him as to the others.
"He's wandered off. Oh, say you've seen en, somebody!"
Catching sight of Taffy, she ran and gripped him by the arm.
"You'll help! It's my Joey. Help me find en!" ”

“ The tears were running down his face.
"We must wait for the tide," said Taffy gently, and tried to lead him away, but he would not go. So they left him to watch and wait while they returned to their work.
Before noon they recovered and fixed the broken wire cable. The iron cradle had disappeared, but to rig up a sling and carry out an endless line was no difficult job, and when this was done Taffy crossed over to the island rock and began to inspect damages. His working gear had suffered heavily, two of his windlasses were disabled, scaffolding, platforms, hods, and loose planks had vanished ”

“ Taffy, with the Chief Officer and a couple of volunteers, moved off to the left, and in less than a minute George caught them up, on horseback.
"I say," he asked, walking his mare close alongside of Taffy, "you don't think this serious, eh?"
"I don't know. Joey wasn't in the crowd, or I should have noticed him. He's daring beyond his strength." He pulled a whistle from his pocket, blew it twice, and listened. This had been his signal when firing a charge; he had often blown it to warn the child to creep away into shelter. ”