Why , it 's madness . '' Katherine 's indignation got the better of her fear . `` I do not think I am trespassing , '' she called back as icily as possible . The stranger did not seem to be snubbed at all . He came down to the very edge of the rocks where Katherine could see him plainly . He was dressed in a somewhat well-worn grey suit and wore spectacles . He did not look like a lunatic , and he did not seem to be drunk . `` I implore you to come in , '' he said earnestly . `` You must be standing on the very brink of the bottomless pit . '' He is certainly off his balance , thought Katherine . He must be some revivalist who has gone insane on one point . I suppose I 'd better go in . He looks quite capable of wading out here after me if I do n't . She picked her steps carefully back with her precious specimens . The stranger eyed her severely as she stepped on the rocks . `` I should think you would have more sense than to risk your life in that fashion for a handful of seaweeds , '' he said . `` I have n't the faintest idea what you mean , '' said Miss Rangely . `` You do n't look crazy , but you talk as if you were . '' `` Do you mean to say you do n't know that what the people hereabouts call the Bottomless Pit is situated right off that point -- the most dangerous spot along the whole coast ? '' `` No , I did n't , '' said Katherine , horrified .
She remembered now that Aunt Elizabeth had warned her to be careful of some bad hole along shore , but she had not been paying much attention and had supposed it to be XXXXX quite another direction .
after along at if in like off on that to