For Bowler's party there seemed very little prospect of anything turning up, for their way lay across bare ledges of rock, with perhaps a pool to wade, or a little cape to scramble across, but never a sign of food or shelter.

Braintree did indeed announce that in one place he saw a "cwab" disappear into a hole, but the chances of satisfaction from that source were too remote to be pursued.
How they longed to be back under the roof of old Swishford, and to hear the cheery bell summoning the boys to tea, and how gratefully now would they have welcomed the wholesome plenty of that often abused meal! Alas! there were no cups of tea, or eggs, or bread-and-butter going on the Long Stork.
"Of course," said Bowler, "we could never be _quite_ stuck up for grub as long as there's seaweed about, and if the rain goes on like this there'll be plenty of water too." "You're wight there," said Braintree; "but seaweed and wain-water is warthah a spare diet." "Anyhow," said Bowler, "we have got enough of the shrimps and peaches left for a good breakfast to-morrow; that's one comfort." And they trudged on in that glorious prospect.
For an hour they toiled along the rocky shore until the daylight almost suddenly vanished, and the gloom of a damp November night fell upon them.

What was the use of exploring further?
Even Bowler lost heart as he stumbled about in the dusk, and heard Braintree shivering and chattering with cold beside him, and Tubbs's scarcely suppressed whimper of misery.
"Better get back to the rest as soon as we can," said he, taking out his whistle and blowing it again.
They listened, but no answer came, only the shriek of the gulls and the steady splash of the rain on the rocks.
"Never mind, we can't be long before we get round to them," said Bowler; "perhaps they've found a place, you know." For another half-hour they toiled on, Bowler blowing his whistle every few minutes, but always without response.
"Where can they be?
We're almost round at the place we started from, surely," said Bowler, "and--hullo, look out there!" They had reached a sudden break in the coast about twenty yards across, with rocks on each side which dropped almost precipitously into the water, forming a serious bar to further progress.
They must either scramble down and wade or swim across, or else turn inland and make a long detour round the head of the chasm.
Bowler made a careful inspection of the rocks, and then said-- "I think we could do it; what do you say?
If we went round we might miss the others." "All wight," said Braintree, blowing his hands; "I'm game, so's Tubbs." Tubbs said nothing, but stood by miserably, ready to follow Bowler's lead.
"I'll go down first," said the latter.

"Mind how you come, the rocks are slippery." He lowered himself cautiously down the steep rock, finding just enough to cling on to with his hands, while he felt his way down with his feet.
He got to the bottom safely, and found firm footing in a ledge of rock close to the water's edge.
"Now, then," shouted he, "down you come, Braintree." Braintree obeyed, and managed with difficulty to reach the ledge.

Then Tubbs attempted.