"I know they would. That's just what I'm afraid of."

"Well, we must do something, and if you- "

Suddenly there fell upon our ears the scrambling, clattering
noise which invariably accompanies the descent of anybody rash
enough to enter a Cornish cove with undue haste in leather-soled
shoes. The Mermaid darted behind a rock, and I advanced
gratefully up the foreshore to the fringe of stones. The noise
grew louder, and the slips more frequent, until there was one
long one, and then a thud. Up rose a fat oath. After a moment
or two, there limped into sight- oh, blessed spectacle!- one of
the hotel porters, conventionally hatless and coatless.

"Ah!" said I.

"The coastguard you sent hailed me, sir, across the fields
yonder. Said something had happened- he didn't know what- but he
heard the word 'hotel.' You see, you shouting to him from here,
and he being up on top, he couldn't hear anything else rightly,
so I came straight down."

"Why didn't be come down himself when- er- when I shouted?"

"He was taking a telegram to the post office sir. Said he told
you so; but I suppose you didn't hear."

Berry's coastguard. Berry's porter.