with the water, and at others being
completely covered.

After the boat had been completely round the rock, which apparently
covered a space of some acres, the young officer gave the word, and the
lead was thrown over to try for soundings and the possibility of there
being good anchorage for a ship that might want to lay off the edge.
But the lead went down, down, down to the end of the line wherever it
was cast, even close in to the rock, indicating that it rose up almost
steeple-like from profound depths.

"Soon settled that point, Mr Belton," said the lieutenant. "The next
thing is to land. Back in, my lads, on the swell, and as soon as we
jump off pull clear again. I think we can do it yonder where the tuft
of green weed is growing."

The men obeyed, and after one or two cautious approaches, the young
officer, who had carefully watched his time, sprang from the thwart
before him right on to the rock, made a second bound, and was clear of
the following wave before it had time to flood the natural pier.

"Now, Mr Belton, can you do that?"

For answer, as the boat was again backed in, Syd leaped out, but did not
calculate his time well, and sprang into a few inches of water, which
went flying amidst the laughter of the men. But the next spring took
him up alongside Mr Dallas.

"A little too soon, Belton," he said. "Now, one of you lads come too.
Keep her well off, coxswain; sometimes a good roller comes unexpectedly,
and if you are not prepared she may be thrown high and dry, stove in."

"Ay, ay, sir," shouted the coxswain. Then the man told leaped ashore
easily enough, and the primary survey of the place began.

It was not an easy task, for from the few square yards of level stone
where they stood there seemed to be no means of getting farther, till
Syd suggested that if they could get up a bit of wall-like rock there
was a ledge from which they could work themselves sideways to a rift in
the side over the sea, and from that perhaps they could get higher.

"But we must be careful; it is only a few inches, and if we lose our
hold, down we go into deep water."

"It would only be a bathe, sir," said Syd, laughing.

"Oh, I don't mind the bath, Belton. I am thinking there may be hungry
sharks about."

"Ugh!" ejaculated Syd, with a shudder, as he glanced at the clear blue
water.

"No fear of a fall though, if we are careful."

"Beg pardon, sir; I could get along there," said the man.

"Yes, my lad;