lers, with their powerful and dangerous
undertow? Besides, I had heard that sharks were plentiful on that
coast.

I stared at the thing as it rose on the summit of a long wave. Yes, it
was a head, and--great heaven! it was the head of a child; the sunlight
falling full upon a little white face, and just a glimpse of gold as it
touched the head, revealed that much beyond a doubt. And, as though to
add to the mystery of the situation, a cry rang out over the roar of the
breakers, which sounded most startlingly like a cry for help.

I was on my feet in a moment. Not a soul was in sight along the shore.
In less than another moment I had thrown off my coat and kicked off my
boots, and as I dashed into the surf another cry came pealing through
the roar--this time more urgent, more piteous than before. I shouted in
encouragement and then it required all my strength and experience in the
water to get through that hell of boiling breakers, and avoid being
rolled and pounded and thrown ignominiously back half drowned. Were it
not indeed that I am a strong swimmer, and, what is better still,
thoroughly at home in the water, such is precisely what would have
happened.

A horrible fear came upon me as I got beyond the broken line. Was I too
late? Then the object of my search rose upon the wave within a few
yards of me.

It was, as I had thought, the face of a child--of a pretty little girl
of twelve or thirteen. She wore a blue bathing dress, which allowed
plenty of freedom for swimming, and her golden-brown hair was gathered
in a thick plait. But in the large blue eyes was a look of terror, a
kind of haunted look.

"Here, you're all right now," I shouted as I reached her. "Don't be
scared. Lean on me, and rest. Then we'll swim in together. Hold on to
my shoulder now. That's right."

The little one seemed exhausted, for she could hardly gasp out--

"We must go in quick. Sharks--two of them--after me," and again she
stared wildly over her shoulder with that terrified and haunted look.
And indeed a very uncomfortable feeling came over myself, for there I
was, over a hundred yards from shore, treading water, with a badly
frightened child hanging on to my shoulder, the breakers in front and
this other peril behind.

Peril indeed! Seldom, if ever, have I known such a chilling of the
blood as that which now went through my frame. A black glistening
object was sliding through the water, five-and-twenty yards awa