"Why did I come?" she said. "It was all Vera's fault. She persuaded us to go, and then kept taking us a little farther and a little farther every time we wanted to turn back. We shall be drowned; I know we shall." "I don't think so," returned Patty hopefully. "The top of the rock is quite dry, as if it weren't covered at high tide. I believe we shall be safe, only we may have to stop here for a very long while." "Let us call for help," suggested Muriel. Both girls shouted at the pitch of their voices again and again, but there was no response, except from the sea birds which they disturbed on the adjacent cliffs. [Illustration: "THEY WERE CUT OFF ON EVERY SIDE"] "How long shall we have to stay here?" enquired Muriel presently. "Why, until the water goes down again." "When will it go down?" "What time is it now?" asked Patty. Muriel consulted the little watch which she wore in a strap on her wrist. "Exactly six o'clock," she replied. "Then it will be high tide about eight or nine, I suppose, and I don't think it will be low again until nearly midnight, or early in the morning." "How dreadful! Won't anybody come to fetch us off?" "I don't see how they could reach us. Look at the sea! It's rushing between the rocks like a mill-race. Any ordinary boat would be dashed to pieces, and there's no lifeboat at Moorcliffe." Muriel shuddered. The water had indeed overflowed the whole of the sandbank, and now swirled in a foaming current round the foot of their retreat, rising every moment a little nearer to them. Following the tide had come a dense sea fog, that drifted down the bay, veiling the sun, and, creeping round the rock, wrapped the girls in its clammy, concealing folds, cutting them off effectually from all possibility of being seen from the neighbouring cliff. In a few minutes the whole prospect was blotted out; they seemed in a world of white mist, as absolutely isolated and alone as if they were in mid-ocean. Trembling with fear, Muriel turned to Patty. "Do you think anybody knows where we are?" she asked. "I can't say. Vera and the others would, of course, tell Miss Lincoln, but she wouldn't know exactly where to look, and no one could find us in this fog." "Do you think the sea'll rise any higher?" "Yes, a little. It can hardly be full tide yet." "Patty! I don't know whether I shall be able to swim with my hurt foot. Suppose the water comes right over the rock, you won't leave me like the others did, will you?" "Never!" said Patty, putting her arm round her cousin. "We'll either both get safely to land, or both go down together." "Will you promise?" "Faithfully." "Thank you. I know you always keep your promises," said Muriel.