But there were so many big dogs running loose in the woods and the wilds at this time of the year, and as they were mostly in distress over something or other, he took very little notice of the creature, and, working steadily on, arrived in due course at the fish shed.
Jervis was tired, having pulled many miles through a choppy sea with the wind against him, and he was thinking that it would be really pleasant to sit writing for an hour or two somewhere out of the roaring of the wind.

Entering his office, he took off his jacket and sat down on the rough stool before the equally rough desk where his clerical work was principally done.
But he had not entered two items in his book of takings when Mr.
Selincourt came in hastily, with a worried look on his face.
"Have you seen Mary in your travels ?" he asked.
"No; I didn't even know that Miss Selincourt was at Seal Cove this morning," Jervis answered, looking up from his writing.
"She came down a good two hours before I did; said she wanted to go over the rocks to test some ironstone formation which she discovered the other day.

She promised to be back here to meet me when I arrived, but that is three hours ago, and she has not come yet." Jervis sat looking at him in an abstracted fashion, as if trying to settle some clue which threatened to escape him; then, with a start, he asked: "Had she a dog with her ?" "Most likely; she never moves very far without one or two of those great brutes from the store to keep her company, and a good thing too.

I always feel more comfortable about her then, than if she were alone." Jervis jumped up and began to pull on his jacket with nervous haste.

He was remembering the dog he had seen on the rocks an hour or two ago, and the creature's evident distress, which probably meant that Miss Selincourt was in trouble also.
"What is the matter ?" demanded Mr.Selincourt.
"Nothing, I hope.