e
fresh trouble that had come upon them, and saw the explanation of
Roylance's action. It was plain enough now: in the boatswain's headlong
fall he had either loosened his hold of the end of the rope, or retained
it so loosely, that as he clung to the rock for his life it had dropped
into the waves, and by the time Syd quite realised what was wrong,
Roylance had hauled it on board, and was standing with it in his hand,
fully awake to the peril of his position, and seeing that no help could
come now from the rock.

Syd's throat felt dry, and a horrible sensation of fear and despair ran
through him as he stood there motionless watching his friend and
companion drifting slowly away. Another minute and his position would
be hopeless unless some vessel picked him up. So desperate did it seem
that Syd felt as if he could do nothing. Then he was all action once
more, as he saw what Roylance intended. His lips parted to cry out
"Don't! don't!" but he did not utter the words, for it was Roylance's
only chance; and all on the rock stood with starting eyes watching him
as he seemed to be examining the rocky wall before him, and they then
saw him turn his back, bend down, lift a loose coop, bear it to the side
of the boat furthest from them, raise it on high, and heave it with a
tremendous splash into the smooth sea.

Before Syd could more than say to himself, "Why did he do that?"
Roylance was back to his old place, had let himself down softly into the
water, and was swimming hard for the rock.

"It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one
else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he
heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a
fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

"Can you save Strake, Rogers?" shouted down Syd.

"Ay, ay, sir. I'll help him all right."

"Come on, then," panted the young midshipman, and setting off he led the
way, climbing along the edge of the rock so as to get level with
Roylance, who was rapidly drifting to the end of the rock.

"He is bringing the rope ashore," said Syd to himself, as he saw the end
in his companion's teeth; and they climbed on, encouraging each other
with shouts, and steadily progressed; but as they climbed it was in
momentary expectation of hearing a wild shriek, and seeing Roylance
throw up his hands, as one of the ravenous monsters dragged him under.

And as they climbed to get level with h