Meanwhile Tom and Mrs. Beauchamp had bought the sand-shoes and various other little necessaries, had had tea in an Oriental coffee shop, and, as the climax of a delightful afternoon, were coming home on the top of a tram--a leisurely proceeding that gave plenty of time for enjoyment. The weather had clouded over early in the afternoon, but they were halfway home before a fine rain began to fall and to blot out the shimmering sea.

Just at sunset it cleared up for a little while, and a long path of gold stretched straight away to the horizon, showing the rocks and the island silhouetted very clear and black against a pale yellow sky.

"Mother," said Tom suddenly, "do the goats ever come down to drink?"

"What goats?"

"The goats on the island?"

"And do they drink what?"

"The sea."

"Oh dear no, Tom; they would not drink the sea-water--it is much too salt. I expect they stay on the island all the summer and come home in winter. I know their masters go and look after them at low tide."

"Well, is it low tide now?" persisted Tom.

Mrs. Beauchamp peered into the dusk.

"No; it is nearly high, I think. There is very little of the rocks to be seen."

"Well, there is something scrambling about on the island, quite low down, and it looks just like goats."

"Sea-birds, Tom?"

"They don't _scramble_," said Tom.

"Well, fishermen perhaps. Show me where you see them."

But the black dots had disappeared. The fine drizzling rain had come on again, and the island was misty; heavy clouds were banked on the horizon, and it had grown suddenly cold and dark.

"Come inside, Tom," said Mrs. Beauchamp; "hold on to the rail and don't tumble off. Isn't it pleasant to think of the warm, cosy nursery and supper?"

"Is it supper-time?" asked Tom, amazed.

"Well, it is past six, and we are a good way from home yet. I hope all the family were safe under shelter before the rain came on. Do you see the white horses dashing up the sides of the island? It looks very cold, doesn't it?"

"I'm glad I'm not a goat," said Tom.

"So am I! See, there are the Parade lights. Get all the parcels together, and be ready to jump off when we stop."

A shopping expedition alone with mother was always a great treat. There was so much to tell afterwards--so many parcels to open and examine. Tom scampered up the Parade in advance of Mrs. Beauchamp's soberer footsteps, so it was he who first caught sight of nurse's face when the door was opened to his clamorous knock.

"Go up to the nursery, Master Tom," she said.

Tom dashed on merrily, and a minute later he heard his mother's voice in the hall, with a quick note of anxiety in it.

"What is it, nurse?"

"It's Miss Susie," said nurse, "and Master d.i.c.k."

Tom hung over the banisters to hear more.

"I left them out on the beach for a bit, whilst I came in to make the tea; and they had my orders to come when I signalled, but they never took no notice. So I ran down to the beach, and there wasn't a sign of them; and there was nothing more that I could do till you came home."

"How long ago?" asked Mrs. Beauchamp.

All of a sudden the tired look had come back to her face. She was anxious, but she was not frightened.

"It was about five I called to them, and it's past six now."

"Have you any idea where they are?"

"Well, I've heard Miss Susie speak of the town and buying sweets; and she's that audacious by times she might have dragged the poor child off without stopping to think--and it's a long three miles, and a regular downpour coming on."

Simultaneously both mother and nurse turned back to the pavement and looked critically at the sky and the sea. There was very little to be seen but scurrying clouds and one or two misty stars, but the boom of the waves on the sh.o.r.e was loud and importunate. Without a word they came in and shut the door.

"I don't think they _can_ be on the beach," said their mother, as cheerfully as she could, "but it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. I will go and speak to the policeman and the fishermen."

She spoke wearily, and the anxious line deepened between her eyes, as she stood irresolutely on the steps, looking into the darkness and feeling the lashing of the fine rain against her face. A sickening wave of fear rolled over her, but nurse could not tell it by her voice.

"No doubt they started for the town--Susie is thoughtless. Open my umbrella, please, nurse, and keep their supper hot."

"I _do_ hope Master d.i.c.k don't get his nasty cough back," said nurse.

"Oh, I don't think he will," said Mrs. Beauchamp.

She ran down the steps, holding her umbrella firmly, and battling with the gusts of wind that swept the Parade. The insistent thunder of the waves sounded very dreary.

She ran over to the sea wall and down the wooden steps on to the beach.

Two or three fishermen were sheltering close under the cliff; the wind was so loud that she had to shout at them to be heard.

"Have you been here long?" she said.

"Yes, most of the day." A short black pipe was removed to allow of the remark.

"Have you seen some children playing about--a little girl in a red jersey, a boy in a sailor suit?"

The answer was very deliberate. A great many boys and girls had been playing on the sands--there always were a "rack" of them--the rain came and swamped them. He hadn't noticed no red jersey in particular.

"Did you see any of them on the rocks?"

No; but then they might have been, for he hadn't been looking that way.

"But _some_ of you would have seen them," Mrs. Beauchamp urged. "If two children had been scrambling on the rocks at sunset, some of you would have noticed them?"

"Maybe, maybe not."