They had each contributed some luxury to the pic-nic, and it made a very tempting display as they spread it out, under a sunny pebbled cave, by St. Catherine’s Head; although, instead of anything more objectionable, they had thought it best to content themselves with a very moderate quantity of beer. When they had done eating, they amused themselves on the shore; and had magnificent games among the rocks, and in every fantastic nook of the romantic promontory. And then Eric suggested a bathe to wind up with, as it was the first day when it had been quite warm enough to make bathing pleasant. “But we’ve got no towels.” “Oh! chance the towels. We can run about till we’re dry.” So they bathed, and then getting in the boat to row back again, they all agreed that it was the very jolliest day they’d ever had at Roslyn, and voted to renew the experiment before the holidays were over, and take Wright and Vernon with them in a larger boat. It was afternoon,--and afternoon still warm and beautiful,--when they began to row home; so they took it quietly, and kept near the land for variety’s sake, laughing, joking, and talking as merrily as ever. “I declare I think this is the prettiest or anyhow the grandest bit of the whole coast,” said Eric, as they neared a glen through whose narrow gorge a green and garrulous little river gambolled down with noisy turbulence into the sea. He might well admire that glen; its steep and rugged sides were veiled with lichens, moss, and wild-flowers, and the sea-birds found safe refuge in its lonely windings, which were colored with topaz and emerald by the pencillings of nature and the rich stains of time. “Yes,” answered Montagu, “_I_ always stick up for Avon Glen as the finest scene we’ve got about here. But, I say, who’s that gesticulating on the rock there to the right of it? I verily believe it’s Wright, apostrophising the ocean for Vernon’s benefit. I only see one of them though.” “I bet you he’s spouting ‘Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean--roll! Ten thousand fleets, etc.’” said Graham laughing. “What do you say to putting in to shore there?” said Duncan; “it’s only two miles to Starhaven, and I dare say we could make shift to take them in for that distance. If Jim says anything we’ll chuck him overboard.” They rowed towards Avon Glen, and to their surprise Wright, who stood there alone (for with a pocket telescope they clearly made out that it _was_ Wright), still continued to wave his arms and beckon them in a manner which they at first thought ridiculous, but which soon make them feel rather uneasy. Jim took an oar, and they soon got within two hundred yards of the beach. Wright had ceased to make signals, but appeared to be shouting to them, and pointing towards one corner of the glen; but though they caught the sound of his voice they could not hear what he said. “I wonder why Vernon isn’t with him,” said Eric anxiously; “I hope--why, what _are_ you looking at, Charlie?”