The Rocks of Valpré

ot even the sight of a crab could divert his thoughts from this entrancing occupation, much less his mistress's shril

mation. It was probably this passion for investigation that induced him to dig with such energy and perseverance, but he was not an interesting companion when the digging mood was upon him. It was, in

tance and dried her feet in melancholy preoccupation. "It's the third day running, a

under Cinders' ardent leadership, but alone it held no fas

porarily abated. He was working away the heap that had colle

is attention. "Cinders!" Then, with a sudden spurt of anim

oment with his stubby little body tensely poised, th

gh to contemplate the blue horizon. A large steamer wa

she said. "Lucky

damp, for she had been bathing, and when the wind had passed it settled again in long, gl

if you don't come soon

Magic Cave a

was a pair of sturdy hind-legs firmly planted amid a whirl of sand. Quite plainly it was

ing to her feet with a flourish

r bare feet into sandals, slung the towel across

unnelled here and there by the sea, scored here and there by springs, risin

her. She longed to explore them, and yet deep in the most private recesses of her soul she was half-afraid. So many terrible stories were told of this par

ch was only accessible at low tide. There was something particularly imposing about this entrance, something palatial, that stirred the girl's quick fancy. She had never

Cinders to his monotonous but all-engrossing pastime. A wide line of rocks stretched between her and her goal, which wa

, and fell forthwith to dreaming as

free," said Chris, with a sigh of pleasurable anticipation. "And then, I suppose, he will begin to jabber French, and I shall wish to goodness I hadn't. I expect he will want to marry me, poor thing! And I shall have to expl

the outlying rocks of the belt she had to cross, and w

murmured to hers

yond all chance of escape to marry an Englishman." The sweet face dimpled over the inspiration. "That ought to settle him, unless he is very perseve

t weed-covered rock that obstructed her path. It was an exceedingly slippery perch. S

exhaustion, leaned on one elbow and sc

to him in her high young voice.

her rock. But her feet slipped on the seaweed,

. "It's these silly sandals. I'll

and pulled them off. "If

she reflected, with h

the flat surface of a rock and p

ly longer than she had anticipated to cross that belt of rocks. It was much farther than it looked. Moreover, the pools were so full of interest that sh

tainers he must h

d. But undoubtedly this particular cave was many degrees more mysterious and more eerie than any other she had ever explored. It was very lon

s from the jutting headland. Already the tide w

to-morrow I'll start earlier and go right in. P'raps Cin

nding. It seemed to lie beneath a spell. She wondered if she would come across any bits of wreckage, and suppressed a shudder. The Gothic archway looked very dark and vault-like from where she stood

wned in the face of the cliff. The next instant she jumped so violently that she missed her footing and fell from her pe

he subsided, tightly clasping one foot between her hands. She had stumbled upon wreckage to her cost; a

f, and then glanced nervously over her shoulder,

ured foot and sprang up. A man, attired in w

at her, then came bounding

. She was feeling dizzy and rather si

approach. "Oh, please go away!" she cried in English.

owed very low, beginning with some formality, "Mais, mademoiselle; permettez-moi, je v

n his knees before her, and had taken

sunlight danced giddily in her eyes. She felt as

nd," she fal

turally!" came the reas

mit me to

but returning to her later-of friendly dark eyes that looked for an instant into hers; and then, exactly how it happened she knew not, she was sitting propped agai

she murmur

k reply. "I shall not hurt you more than is necessary. It is to arrest the

inning to see more clearly, and her gaze travelled with dawning criticis

French," she whi

oiselle," he returned, with

that. Must you pull it any tighter? I-I can bear it, of co

ere full of tears, though she k

ery brave. Once more-so-and we will not do

altogether. She made a desperate grab after her self-control, and by din

s delicate as a woman's. A thin line of black moustache outlined a mouth that

eyed him with interest. "It's getting better," she said. "I

I saw immediately that it was serious.

ested Chris in dismay. "I sha

hall not stay here. If you will acce

t-carry me!"

"And why not, little one? Because yo

he could feel shy. He was too kindly, too protecting, too altogether charming, for that. But he was

uch older-than you think

o thoughts upon the subject, mademoiselle. I believe what I see, and I assure you tha

No," hastily checking

ve, of course. I knew yo

ca

iselle?" His eyes

ame and broke it. If I hadn't cut my foot, you would have been there still. Do you really think you can

miling. "Have no fear, mademoise

ment. "Oh, I am not afraid, preux che

f the fairies," he interrupted

her lightly and easily, as if she had been an

elle! We depa

un!" sa

obbed and burned, but she put this fact resolutely away from her. She had found the knight, and, albeit

ividness, the entrancing vitality of her, that caught the attention. People smiled almost unwittingly when little Chris Wyndham turned her laughing eyes their way; they were so clear, so blue, so confidingly merry. There was a rare sweet

t you like to set me down while you go and fetch my sandals? They are over there on the rock

f the way. He seated her at once upon a flat rock, and s

t so much of pai

l be quick now, won't you, because I ought to be gett

he question

e doesn't talk French, so I don

ile. "But I speak English, mademoisel

fashion," admitted Chr

tand it. It's not ve

urely French. "La belle dame sans merci!" he mu

hed Chris. "No o

e trim, slight figure was quite good to look upon. He went bo

y is," said Chris, "an