'Bout two foot farder," growled Bob, "so as they couldn't hit us;
that's 'bout all."

"But you can do no good," said Mr Denning. "Lena, my child, they have
been very brave, and done everything they could; tell them to go now; it
is to save their lives."

"Don't--don't, Miss Denning," I shouted, for I could bear it no longer.
"There isn't anybody here but Nic Walters who would be such a cur."

I said the words passionately, feeling a kind of exaltation come over
me, and everything was in the most unstudied way, or I should not have
said it at all.

The words were not without their effect, for they stung Walters to the
quick. The moment before he had been lying shivering in the bottom of
the boat, but as I spoke he sprang up and cried in a high-pitched,
hysterical voice that might have been Mr Preddle's--

"It isn't true, Miss Denning. I've been a treacherous coward and a
beast, but I'd sooner die now than leave you to come to harm."

"A pity you didn't, my lad, before you betrayed us as you did," said Mr
Brymer, in a deep-toned voice.

"Ah, yes. Words are no use now," said the captain slowly.

"No! No use now--no use now," cried Walters wildly. "It is too late,
too late," and before any one could grasp what he was about to do, he
leaped over the side into the black water.

But not to drown, for the scintillations of the tiny creatures disturbed
by his plunge showed exactly where he was, and Bob Hampton only had to
lower the boat-hook and thrust it right down as a wild cry came from the
cabin overhead. The next minute he had caught the wretched,
half-distraught fellow, and dragged him to the surface, where Neb Dumlow
seized him and snatched him over the side to let him fall into the
bottom of the boat, and thrust his foot upon him to keep him down.

"Want to doctor him, sir?" then said Dumlow gruffly.

But there was no answer, for our attention was taken up by a savage
burst of rage from Jarette, who fired at us unmistakably this time, and
a sharp cry came from one of the occupants of the boat.

"I warned you," cried Jarette. "Now row for your lives."

"Yes, in heaven's name, go," cried Mr Denning, "you are only adding to
our agony."

"No," cried Mr Frewen, "I will not give up. Brymer--my lads, you will
fol--"

"Hush," said Mr Brymer, as there was another flash and a report from
Jarette's pistol. "Of course we will follow, but not now. It would be
madness. Wait, man! We will not go far. Use