Max Pemberton

“ As they came nearer to the neck of the bay they had the better sight of their haven and of its possibilities. The stream fell from a great height of the mountains to the sea, but there was a deep blue pool where it struck the shore, and about this wooded slopes flanked so steeply that the trees upon their heights hung over the bay; and many a cove, roofed with clinging creeper and sheltering bush, offered harbourage from the outer waters. ”

“ There is a coast-guard station at Carnero, and the watchman would be the safest man to go to; or you might ask in the village for the priest, who is named Semello. Our own house is shut up; and even to-day a stranger is not quite safe alone in this wild place. Have you a boat with you?"
"Yes," said Fisher, "the yacht's longboat was washed up sound upon the sand, and if it hadn't been for the biscuit in it, we should have wanted a dinner to-day. ”

“ At a distance, it might be, of a mile from the cove Messenger, who was going before Fisher, came upon a bridle-path, there being a second branching from this, and leading downward to the valley. He stopped at the divergent ways, and, speaking in a whisper, said—
"You take the lower road; but do not show yourself in the open unless you see an object. If you want me, fire once; but you won't do that unless you're in any danger, and that isn't likely unless you run against the men we saw this morning. I trust to you." ”

“ A gunshot on either side means that help is wanted; but any man who shows himself when he can lie low deserves what he gets. What I want to find out is if there's a village within two miles of here; and if so, whether it's a place where we're likely to get help or the other thing."
They all agreed to this readily, and Fisher, having taken a dozen cartridges from the water-proof box in the locker, he left with Messenger on the outpost work. To quit the cave of branches was no easy task—unless they had pulled into the cove, which they did not wish to do ”

“ I don't suppose they'll follow us across the bay here, and this seems to me just the place to lie in, while we search every yard of the reef we can reach, working always by the dark. There is no earthly reason, providing our suppositions are right—why we should not do well of the venture now. ”