ey would not attempt it."

"Trust 'em for that, sir. I'll stick to the canoe like one of those
limpet things; mind you do too. I say, I'm beginning to like it, ain't
you?"

"It is exciting, Ned, and I don't think I mind."

"That's your style, sir. That's the true British boy speaking. Ah,
it's no wonder we carry all before us when we don't get licked. There
now, you look every inch of you like Sir John, and he'd be proud of you.
Hooray! who cares! Go it, you black rascals. We shall go over that
reef like a flash. One of our boats with a big crew dare not attempt
it, and--Oh, I say, look, Mr Jack, look. You were wishing for it, and
there it is, half-a-mile away--one of our boats coming to save us,
and--"

"She'll be too late, Ned," groaned Jack, and, unseen by their captors,
every man of whom had his back to them, and was working away with his
paddle, the lad rose softly in his place and waved his hand above his
head.

"Sit down, sir," whispered Ned excitedly. "It means a topper if they
catch you at it. But look, look, there's some one waving his helmet."

"Yes, yes," whispered back Jack, "it's father."

"Hooray!" said Ned softly. "But what are they firing for?"

"Signal that they see us, Ned," whispered back Jack hoarsely, as there
were two faint puffs of smoke seen and the reports followed.

"Too far off to try and swim to 'em, sir?"

"Yes, Ned," said Jack sadly, "and there are the sharks."

"Ugh! yes, sir. That won't do. Never mind, let's sit still. They've
seen us, and they'll have us now."

"But our boat can't follow through the surf."

"Can't!" cried Ned; "it has to. Never know what you can do till you
try."

The rush through the water had been exciting before; it was tenfold more
so now, and the prisoners looked wildly over the lagoon at the cutter,
which was being pulled after them evidently with all the rowers' might,
the oars dipping and the water flashing in the last rays of the sun as
it dipped swiftly down. But Jack's heart sank again as he saw that they
would be crossing the reef while the rescue party were still half-a-mile
away.

Ned felt with him, and said softly--

"Oh, why don't they go back to the yacht and signal to 'em to get under
weigh and go out in chase of us--cut us off on the other side?"

"But where is the yacht, Ned?" cried Jack. "She may be the other way."

"Ah, that's what we don't know, sir. There, we can't do anything but
sit fast. You get your