But as I came home a while ago from the inlet I noticed a dog on the rocks, a big creature that seemed in trouble.
I didn't think much of it then, but of course it must have been the animal that was with Miss Selincourt, so I am going to see if she is all right," Jervis answered.
"I will come with you," said Mr.Selincourt.
"Please, no; I can go faster alone.

And if she is not really in difficulties we might both miss her, and have a long, anxious hunt for no purpose at all.

If you will walk over beyond the fish-flakes, and come to the rocks from that direction, you will either meet her or meet me," Jervis said, then hurried off to his boat, which was drawn up on the shore at a little distance from the fish shed.
It must have been two miles away, perhaps three, that he had seen the dog, and now he blamed himself because he had not taken more notice of its trouble.

The worst of it was, he was not quite sure as to where he had seen the creature.

The sky was overcast, and the weather looked so threatening that, unless he could find Miss Selincourt soon, and hurry her home, she would scarcely escape a very bad wetting.
Resting on his oars, he sent out a mighty shout, then waited with every sense on the alert.