In a dim way, she classed them with tamarinds, and cocoa-palms, and other sub-tropical products.

At any rate, she was exceedingly anxious to tell Hozier that if mangroves tasted as they smelt she would need to be very hungry before she ate one! Marcel was endowed with quick ears.

Though Hozier's whisper could hardly have reached him, he held up a warning hand, even while he brought the catamaran ashore on the shingle, so gently that not a pebble was disturbed.

He rose, a gaunt scarecrow, stepped off, and drew the shallow craft somewhat further up the sloping beach.

Then he helped Iris to her feet.