Then Chippy heard a voice.
'Pull round a bit,' it asid; 'we shall soon see if he rises again or
no.'

'Not he,' said another voice, which quavered. 'Never! never! He'll
ne'er rise again after that frightful crack you hit him. I shall hear
it all my days.'

The hardier ruffian chuckled. 'I did fetch him a good un,' he said--'a
reg'lar oner. I felt the hook light on him. But pull, I tell
ye--pull! There's no time for moanin' an' groanin' now.'

Chippy felt that way was being given to the boat, and he struck out
softly with one arm and both feet in order that he should not drag on
the boat and betray his presence. By the aid of the painter, he could
keep his head low behind the broad stern, and quite out of sight of the
two rogues in the boat.

His shoulder ached where the boat-hook had fallen upon it, but the blow
had not been disabling, for the force had been partly broken by the
water. In one way, it was very lucky for the scout that he had
received this sharp crack, for the thief who sought his life was now
fully under the impression that the boy had been beaten under. This
caused the two rogues to be less thorough in their search for a head
showing above the water. The boat was gently paddled round the spot
where Chippy had disappeared, but the men did not move to and fro in
the boat, glancing on every side. Had they done so, the head bobbing
along under the stern would have been discovered, and there would have
been a short shrift for the daring scout.

'He'll never come up--never,' said the rower, his voice still unsteady;
'you stunned him, an' I've heard as anyone stunned will never rise
again.'

'That's true,' said the ruffian, who still poised the boathook ready to
deal a second blow if needful--'that's true, an' like enough he's gone
down for good. Anyhow, he's been under long enough for us to be sure
he's settled. Here, what are ye up to?'

This question was addressed to his companion, who now dipped his oars
deeply, and began to pull a strong stroke.

'I'm off ashore,' said the latter; and Chippy could hear the fellow's
teeth chattering as he spoke. 'I've had enough o' this. I'm goin' to
get on the bank.'

'Pull away, then, chicken-heart,' jeered his more brutal comrade.
'After all, the stuff's safely stowed away. There's no need to go back
to the old barky.'

The boat was steadily driven inshore, and at the stern Chippy swam his
hardest to take his weight off the painter and kee