The sunshine was dazzling, and
its light on the detached masses of milky chalk which lay far
beneath us made them appear semi-transparent, like fragments of
alabaster or carnelian. I was wishing that I _could but_ get down
the cliff, when a worthy sailor appeared toiling up it, and I
discovered his winding stair case cut in the great chalk wall, down
which I proceeded without further ado. I was a little frightened,
for the steps were none of the most regular or convenient, and I
felt as if I were hanging (and at an uncomfortable distance from
either) between heaven and earth. I got down safe, however, and ran
to the water's edge, danced a galop on one smooth little sand
island, waited till the tide, which was coming up, just touched my
toes, gave it a kick of cowardly defiance, and then showed it a
fair pair of heels and scrambled up the cliff again, very much
enchanted with my expedition.
I think a fight with smugglers up that steep staircase at night,
with a heavy sea rolling and roaring close under it, would be
glorious! When I reached the top my father said it was time to go
home, so we returned.
Pages:
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653