The hesitating tide

An original fiction passage set in the nineteenth century.

Charles could still see the stepping stones. The tide had covered their edges, but the tops remained dry. He had crossed them every summer since childhood. Behind him, the cave narrowed into darkness. He told himself that the familiar route could not have changed in the hour he had spent inside. Then a wave washed over the nearest stone.

He waited for it to appear again. The water withdrew, leaving the surface shining. He placed one foot on it and felt the sole slide. The next stone was farther away than memory had made it. Charles stepped back into the cave and called towards the path above. His voice returned from the walls. This time he called louder, no longer pretending that familiarity was enough.

Analyse how the writer uses language and structure to show Charles’s changing confidence in his escape route. Support your answer with references to the passage.