"I'm just afraid he may have got hurt somewhere--twisted his ankle, or something of that kind, and be lying out in the sand-hills; and it's as black as pitch outside, and going to be a bad night." "Puir lad, I hope not," said Mrs. Rimmer, with added concern in her face. "'Twill be a bad night for them that's on th' sea." Her face, in its setting of puckered white nightcap, looked very frail and anxious. "But they're aw in His hands, passon." "And they couldn't be in better, Mrs. Rimmer," he said, more cheerfully than he felt. "Ay, I know; but I wish my man were home. Whene'er th' wind howls like that, I aye think of them that's gone and them that has yet to go." "Not one of them goes without His knowing. Your thoughts are prayers, and the prayers of a good woman avail much." And he pressed the thin white hand, and Gracie kissed her and Kattie, and they went out into the night. The wind hummed across the flats till their heads hummed in unison. More than once the drive of it carried them off their course, and brought them up against the ghostly hummocks, where the long, thin wire-grass swirled and swished with the sound of scythes. The grim desolation beyond struck a chill to Eager's heart, as he imagined Jim lying out there, calling in vain for help against the strident howl of the gale. There was just the possibility that he had got home during their absence, however; so, in anxious silence, they made for Carne. "No, I hanna seen nowt of him," said Mrs. Lee, and stood glowering at them with set, pinched face. "I had better see Sir Denzil. Shall I go up? You wait here with Jack, Gracie." And he went off along the stone-flagged passage, and climbed the big staircase, and knocked on the door leading to Sir Denzil's rooms. Mr. Kennet opened to him at last, with so much surprise that he was, for the moment, unable to recognise the unexpected visitor, and stood staring blankly at him. "I want to see Sir Denzil, Kennet--Mr. Eager. One of the boys is missing----" "Eh?--Ah!--Missing?--Tell him. Will you wait a moment, sir?" And Eager concluded from his manner that Mr. Kennet had been enjoying himself, and hoped that it might not be, in this case, like man like master. Sir Denzil, however, received him with most formal politeness. "You bring me good news, Mr. Eager?" he asked, snuffing very elegantly. "Who is it is a-missing?" "We can't find Jim, Sir Denzil." "Ah--Jim! Let me see--Jim! Now, which is Jim?" "Jim is the hero of the sand-boat----" "Ah--and is the boat gone again?" "No, sir. They both pledged themselves not to go out in her alone again." "Ah--pity! Great pity! I rather counted upon that monstrosity to solve our difficulty. However, Jim is missing!" And he tapped his snuff-box thoughtfully. "And what do you infer from that, Mr. Eager?" "I'm afraid he may have gone off into the sand-hills and possibly got hurt. We've been down to Seth Rimmer's----"