ox.
Hold up; don't stumble again."

"I can't help it," said the middy, with his teeth chattering. "It feels
as if all the strength had gone out of my legs. Here, Aleck, it's of no
use to be a sham; hold on tightly by my hand and help me along. I'm
afraid that was all brag about making the dive. I suppose I must be a
horrible coward, after all."

"I'm afraid I am too," said Aleck bitterly, as he held the other's hand
tightly and tried to progress cautiously in the dark. "I feel horrible,
and as if the next step I take will send us both into the water."

"Ugh! Don't say that," whispered the middy, huskily. "I remember what
that fellow said about the seals; but it's my belief that a dark piece
of water like this must swarm with all kinds of terrible creatures."

"And yet you wanted to dive into it for a swim?"

"Yes, when the candle was alight."

"I didn't feel anything attack us when we bathed," said Aleck, quietly.

"Oh, don't talk about it," said the middy, shuddering. "I bathed then,
but I don't feel as if, feeling what I do, I could risk another plunge
in."

Aleck felt no disposition whatever to talk about the venture his
companion in misfortune had proposed, for he was intent upon getting to
the spot where the light-producing implement had been bestowed, and
twice over he nearly lost his calmness, for the horrible idea attacked
him that he had wandered quite away from the spot in the darkness.

It was an ugly thought, bringing up others of a strangely confusing
nature, but at last, just when he was ready to confess to this fresh
trouble, he came upon candle and tinder-box, over which his trembling
fingers played for some minutes before the welcome spark appeared in the
tinder and suffered itself to be blown up into a glow instead of dying
out.

Hot and tired, the two lads made for the resting-place, and were
thankful to cast themselves down, to lie in silence for close upon an
hour before either of them ventured to advert to their position; but at
last the midshipman declared that he knew it from the first, and that
they were a pair of idiots to trust the word of a smuggler.

"I don't see it," said Aleck, who felt ready to give the man credit for
having met with some mishap.

"Well, I do. It was a deeply-laid scheme to trap us--shut us up here
and leave us to die while he escaped."

"Nonsense," cried Aleck. "Why, it would be a horrible murder!"

"Yes; horrible--diabolical--shocking."

"I