“I bet you that animal’s got a nest somewhere near here,” said Vernon eagerly.  “Come, let’s have a look for it; a cormorant’s egg would be a jolly addition to our collection.”

They got up, and looking down the face of the cliff, saw, some eight feet below them, a projection half hidden by the branch of a tree, on which the scattered pieces of stick clearly showed the existence of a rude nest.  They could not, however, see whether it contained eggs or no.

“I must bag that nest; it’s pretty sure to have eggs in it,” said Vernon, “and I can get at it easy enough.”  He immediately began to descend towards the place where the nest was built, but he found it harder than he expected.

“Hallo,” he said, “this is a failure.  I must climb up again to reconnoitre if there isn’t a better dodge for getting at it.”  He reached the top, and, looking down, saw a plan of reaching the ledge which promised more hope of success.

“You’d better give it up, Verny,” said Wright.  “I’m sure it’s harder than we fancied, I couldn’t manage it, I know.”

“O no, Wright, never say die.  Look; if I get down more towards the right the way’s plain enough, and I shall have reached the nest in no time.”  Again his descended in a different direction, but again he failed.  The nest could only be seen from the top, and he had lost the right route.

“You must keep more to the right.”

“I know,” answered Vernon; “but, bother take it, I can’t manage it, now I’m so far down.  I must climb up again.”

“Do give it up, Verny, there’s a good fellow.  You can’t reach it, and really it’s dangerous.”

“O no, not a bit of it.  My head’s very steady, and I feel as cool as possible.  We mustn’t give up; I’ve only to get at the tree, and then I shall be able to reach the nest from it quite easily.”

“Well, do take care, that’s a dear fellow.”

“Never fear,” said Vernon, who was already commencing his third attempt.  This time he got to the tree, and placed his foot on a part of the root, while with his hands he clung on to a clump of heather.  “Hurrah!” he cried, “it’s got two eggs in it, Wright;” and he stretched downwards to take them.  Just as he was doing so, he heard the root on which his foot rested give a great crack, and with a violent start he made a spring for one of the lower branches.  The motion caused his whole weight to rest for an instant on his arms;—­unable to sustain the wrench, the heather gave way, and with a wild shriek he fell headlong down the surface of the cliff.

With, a wild shriek!—­but silence followed it.

“Vernon!  Vernon!” shouted the terrified Wright, creeping close up to the edge of the precipice.  “O Vernon! for heaven’s sake speak!”