It was a dreary place--no sound even indicating the neighbourhood of life.

On one side, the river below them went flowing out to the sea in the dark, giving a cold sluggish gleam now and then, as if it were a huge snake heaving up a bend of its wet back, as it hurried away to join its fellows; on the other side rose a great wall of stone, beyond which was the sound of long waves following in troops out of the dark, and falling upon a low moaning coast.

Clouds hung above the sea; and above the clouds two or three disconsolate stars.
"Here is a stair," said Alec.

"Let us go up on the top of the sea-wall, and then we shall catch the first glimpse of the light at her funnel." They climbed the steep rugged steps, and stood on the broad wall, hearing the sea-pulses lazily fall at its foot.

The wave crept away after it fell, and returned to fall again like a weary hound.