BEDTIME TALES

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12507, 24 July 1926, Page 16

B EDTIME TALES

THE CAVE “Now, mind you're home in proper time for dinner,” said Sarah, as she buttoned up Wendy’s coat. “One o’clock sharp.” “Of course, we will,” said Wendy and Derek together. “If you’re not,” said Sarah, with a little frown between her eyebrows, “I shall never be able to let you go out alone again.” Derek saw that his new wrist watch was right by the diningroom clock. “I’ll promise we’ll be back in time,” he said. “Come on, Wendy.” Daddy had been ill, so Mummy, thinking he ought to have a quiet time as he was getting better, had sent the children off to the seaside with Sarah. They had a lovely small cottage on top of a cliff, with only two rooms and a wee kitchen underneath. Down the face of the cliff a rough, steep flight of steps had been cut out. Down these the children climbed gleefully. It seemed a very exciting place. At the bottom of the cliff was a strbtch of shingle, with all sorts of pretty shells and pebbles and dry seaweed. Further out were rocks, and then the sea. The first part of the morning the children spent in looking for treasures. Wendv found a lovely pink and green shell, and Derek was happy at finding a pebble washed perfectly round by the sea. “Let’s get on that big rock out there now,” suggested Wendy. "We might find some sea anemones in the pools.” “Rather,” said Derek, “and all sorts of other things. Cockles and mussels and crabs. Mind you don’t slip.” Off thev scrambled, not minding any tumbles, till they reached the big rock which stood at the end of a headland. There they found a most wonderful pool, and I’m afraid they forgot all about the time. “Oh!” cried Derek, suddenly remembering, “it’s ten minutes to one. We’ll never be back in time! Why, Wendy, what’s the matter?” Wendy was staring backwards the way they had come. The sea had covered it all up! They were caught by the tide! “Perhaps we can get back another way,” said Wendy, bravely. They began to scramble back towards the cliff another way, and soon the headland hid the flight of steps from their view. They were quite wet when they reached the shingle, and there was only a thin strip of it left. What were they to do? “Look, there’s a cave in the cliff!” cried Derek, suddenly. “Come on, Wendy, it might lead somewhere.” The}' climbed up into the cave and stumbled along a dark, low, narrow passage. They went along for a long time till Derek hit against what "felt like a wooden door. They banged and pushed at it. Suddenly it opened and the scared face of Sarah looked through at them. “Oh!” shouted both children. “We’re back at the cottage—and we’re in time for dinner. l ” They had landed in the cottage kitchen, and they soon told Sarah all about their adventure. “My!” she said, “don’t you never do that again. But what an adventure! Your mother told me this was a strange old cottage. Fancy having a real secret passage to the sea all to ourselves!” Which was a very nice end to the adventure, wasn’t it? iiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiii