ood for me, mate. Who's afraid? Well, I am!"

He was now kneeling, and was in the act of plunging in his hands, when
there was a low gurgling noise, and, as if by magic, the water in the
basin was sucked rapidly down the round central hole that had been
almost invisible, leaving the basin perfectly empty.

"Nearly lost the soap," said Billy Wriggs.

"And I ain't got the wash," cried Smith, in an ill-used tone.

"Beg pardon, sir, what time'll it be high water again?"

_Bang! Roosh_!

"Murder!" yelled Smith, throwing himself backward and rolling over, for
with an explosion like that of steam, the water gushed up from the
central hole, playing some twenty feet up in the air, filling the basin
and deluging Wriggs before he could escape, and then dragging him back
towards the central hole, down which it began to run, while the man
roared lustily for help.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

A CROCODILE.

As soon as he could get upon his feet Smith ran as he supposed for his
life, but his messmate's call drew him back and he ran as quickly to his
help. Too late though to render any assistance, for Drew, who was
nearest, leaned forward and caught Wriggs' hand, stopping his progress
toward the centre for the moment, and then his feet glided from beneath
him on the smooth, sloping tufa and he too went down, and had to be
aided by Oliver and Panton, who drew both out just as Smith reached the
edge of the basin.

"Why don't yer mind!" roared the latter, excitedly. "Want to lie down
there in the hot water and drowned yerself?"

"No, matey, can't say as I do," growled Wriggs, shaking himself as he
edged farther and farther away. "But this here's about the dangerousest
place as I was ever in as I knows on. Been dowsed a good many times in
my life, but not like this here. Got yourselves very wet, gentlemen?"

"Oh, no, only splashed," said Oliver. "Here, you two had better get
back to the brig."

Smith looked at his messmate.

"Feared, mate?" he said.

"Eh?" replied Wriggs, rubbing his ear well. "I dunno 'bout feared now.
I'm werry wet."

"Then go back and change your things," said Oliver.

Wriggs scratched his head now and hesitated.

"Beg pardon, sir, I couldn't help letting go, 'cause I thought we was
all going to be sucked down that hole, and yer couldn't tell whether yer
was coming up again; and though I'm a tidy swimmer, I never tried hot
water; but if so be as you don't mind, me and my mate'd rayther go on
alo