t here's a big boat, sir, close in; floating upside
down."

"Boat?" cried Strake. "Ay, ay, my lad; that means firewood for the
hauling up; soon dry on the rocks."

The news brought Roylance from Mr Dallas's quarters, and Terry hurried
down, the little party finding that the current had brought a
water-logged boat as big as a small schooner close in to the rock, by
which it was slowly floating some forty yards away.

"If we could only get a rope made fast on board," cried Syd, excitedly,
as he gazed at the swept decks, and masts broken off quite short.

"I'll swim off with a line, sir," said Rogers.

"Ugh! sharks!" ejaculated Roylance.

"I could swim off with a line and make it fast," began Syd.

"Do, then, Belton," said Terry, eagerly; "the boat would keep us in
firewood for long enough."

"But I should be afraid of the sharks, and should not like to let a man
do what I would not do myself."

"P'r'aps there are no sharks here now," said Terry, with an aggravating
smile, which seemed to say, "you're afraid."

"I'm not going to risk it," said Syd, quietly, "badly as we want the
wood."

"But that little vessel may be valuable," said Terry, "and mean
prize-money for the men."

"I don't think the men would care for prize-money bought with the life
of their captain's son," said Syd, coldly.

"I wouldn't for one," muttered Rogers, as a murmur ran round the group
of watching men.

"Pish!" said Terry, with a merry laugh.

"Why don't you try it, Mr Terry?" said Roylance.

"Because I should order him not to go, and would not allow it, Mr
Roylance," said Syd, firmly.

"Brayvo, young game-cock!" muttered Strake, who was busy with a line.
"My, what a orficer I shall make o' him."

"It would be too dangerous a job for any man to attempt. The sea swarms
round the rock with hungry fish, and I don't mind saying I should be
just as much afraid to go as I should be to let one of my men go."

"There, sir, I think this here 'll do it," said Strake, coming forward
with a ring of line and a marlin-spike tied across at the end. "If
you'll give leave for me to go with half a dozen o' the men along
yonder, we may be able to hook her as she comes along."

"Come along, then," said Syd. "But will not that marlin-spike slip
out?"

"That's just what I'm afraid on, sir. Ought to be a little tiny grapnel
as would hold on, but this is the best I can think on."

The party climbed along the rocks, which formed a perpendicu