ntil it lodged in a crevice of the
coral. Then a few powerful blows with the back of the axe wedged it
firmly enough to bear any ordinary strain. The rope-ends reeved through
the pulley on the tree were lying where they fell from the girl's hand
at the close of the struggle. He deftly knotted them to the rigid bar,
and a few rapid turns of a piece of wreckage passed between the two
lines strung them into a tautness that could not be attained by any
amount of pulling.

Iris watched the operation in silence. The sailor always looked at his
best when hard at work. The half-sullen, wholly self-contained
expression left his face, which lit up with enthusiasm and concentrated
intelligence. That which he essayed he did with all his might. Will
power and physical force worked harmoniously. She had never before seen
such a man. At such moments her admiration of him was unbounded.

He, toiling with steady persistence, felt not the inward spur which
sought relief in speech, but Iris was compelled to say something.

"I suppose," she commented with an air of much wisdom, "you are
contriving an overhead railway for the safe transit of yourself and the
goods?"

"Y--yes."

"Why are you so doubtful about it?"

"Because I personally intended to walk across. The ropes will serve to
convey the packages."

She rose imperiously. "I absolutely forbid you to enter the water
again. Such a suggestion on your part is quite shameful. You are taking
a grave risk for no very great gain that I can see, and if anything
happens to you I shall be left all alone in this awful place."

She could think of no better argument. Her only resource was a woman's
expedient--a plea for protection against threatening ills.

The sailor seemed to be puzzled how best to act.

"Miss Deane," he said, "there is no such serious danger as you imagine.
Last time the cuttle caught me napping. He will not do so again. Those
rifles I must have. If it will serve to reassure you, I will go along
the line myself."

He made this concession grudgingly. In very truth, if danger still
lurked in the neighboring sea, he would be far less able to avoid it
whilst clinging to a rope that sagged with his weight, and thus working
a slow progress across the channel, than if he were on his feet and
prepared to make a rush backwards or forwards.

Not until Iris watched him swinging along with vigorous overhead
clutches did this phase of the undertaking occur to her.

"Stop!" s