the rope jerked.

No one replied. It was as if their mouths were too dry to utter a word,
for the party on the top of the cliff plainly saw the shark thrust the
rope up with its muzzle and glide under it.

Just then the horrible secret was out, for the sailor down below at the
end of the rope shrieked out--

"Swim, sir! swim for it. One of those devils is coming at yer."

Roylance was not a dozen feet from the speaker now, and they saw him
give a violent start, and glance wildly over his shoulder.

The fright did it. He could no longer swim calmly now, but began to
throw out his arms hand over hand to reach the rock, splashing the water
up into foam, and in an instant this brought the shark in his track.

"Ready with the stones?" cried Syd, seizing one himself, and poising it
above his head.

The others obeyed, and what followed seemed afterwards almost momentary.

The shark scented its prey, and came on steadily now toward where
Roylance was struggling desperately. In another minute the poor fellow
would have been seized, but a shower of great stones came whirling down
in dangerous proximity to the swimmer, only one of which struck the
shark, but that one with so good effect that it was for the moment
disconcerted, and turned round as if puzzled. But directly after it saw
its prey, went down, and rose in the act of turning over to seize its
victim.

But there's many a slip between the cup and the lip, even in the case of
sharks. Many a one has had a knife ripping it open just as it has
anticipated enjoying some juicy black; and others have had their prey
snatched from their lancet-studded jaws, or tasted with it a hook.

It was so here. Syd had hurled his stone, and was watching its effect
before stooping for another, when he realised what the sailor in the
loop below was about to do.

"No, no," he cried, quick as thought. "No more stones, stand by with
the rope."

Syd threw himself down upon his chest and strained over the edge to
watch what was going on, while, with the rapidity taught by discipline,
the sailors seized the rope, and stood ready and waiting the next order.

It was not for them to think for themselves, but to act as their
officers bade, and Syd was already one whom they trusted and flew to
obey.

All this takes long to describe, but the action was quick enough.

The sailor at the end of the rope had, as Roylance drew nearer, spun
himself round rapidly till the loop was tight a