My word, sir, you did give me a fright." "I'll take all the blame, Chowne," said my father; "but let me tell Mrs Bonnet that we're all right, poor woman, and then let's walk across to my place to breakfast." There was no need to go and tell Mother Bonnet, for she had caught sight of us, and came at a heavy trot over the pebbles to display a face and eyes red with weeping, and to burst forth into quite a wail as she flung her arms about Bigley, and hugged and kissed him.
"Oh, my dear child! My dear child!" she cried, "I've been up and down here all night afraid that you was drowned." Just then I noticed that Bob Chowne was backing behind his father, and feeling moved by the same impulse, I backed behind mine, for we were both in a state of alarm for fear that the good-hearted old woman should want to hug and kiss us too.

Fortunately, however, she did not, for all her attention was taken up by Bigley, and we soon after parted, Bigley going with Mother Bonnet towards old Jonas's cottage, and we boys following our fathers to reach the cliff path and get home.
"You will not come along here on the pony," said my father as the doctor mounted his sturdy little Exmoor-bred animal.
"Indeed but I shall," replied the doctor.

"Why not ?" "It will be so dangerous for a mounted man." "Tchah!" exclaimed the doctor, "my pony's too fond of himself to tumble us down the cliff; but there, as you are so nervous about me I will not ride.

Here, Bob, you ride the pony home, and I'll walk." "Ride him home along the cliff path, father ?" said Bob, looking rather white.
"Yes, of course.

Captain Duncan is afraid of losing his doctor, and you are not so much consequence as I.