Part 39 (1/2)

”This is grand,” said Vince, as they drew nearer ”Why, it's as easy as can be, and any onehere

I say, isn't it deep? This is a regular channel, and I shouldn't be surprised if it takes us straight to the way in, for it's perfectly plain that it can't be out there No boat could get in--big or little”

”Yes, this seeht,” said Mike ”See any rocks?”

”Only outside, and they keep off the tide I say, Mike, there ought to be so here I wonder nobody coe of rocks we can see across the cove”

”How do you know?”

”Because it's so covered with cor somewhere a bit farther--”

”Look out, Mike! Starboard!--hard, or we shall be on that great snag”

As he spoke Vince seized the sail and swung it across, so as to send the boat upon another tack, and as he did so there was a jerk which nearly threw the sensation, and the boat's head ung round, and she was borne rapidly along once more by the current which they had experienced before

For the fierce race suddenly swept about the rock they had grazed, catching the boat and treating it as if it had been a cork, leaving the boys to devote all their energies to steering, to avoid the rocks which studded their course

”Just the saain,” said Vince, ”only we're about a hundred yards nearer in, and the rocks are closer together”

Their experience of half an hour before was being repeated, but with added perils in the shape of larger rocks, while, toin the boat, one of whose planks had been started when they struck

Vince was sea his companion to keep a sharp look-out ahead, he took off his jacket, and then dragged the jersey shi+rt he wore over his head Kneeling in the bottoarh which the clear water calanced at the bubbling water once, and shuddered slightly; but he did not speak then, for there was a great rock right in front, towards which the boat was rushi+ng, with the sail well-filled, and having the leeward gunwale lon by the surface

But Mike did not even wince The current was racing the, while the as fresher now, and as the boy pressed down the blade of the oar he could feel that the boat was fully under his control--that it was like soreat fish of which he was the tail, and that he had only to give one good stroke with the oar blade to send the prow to right or left as he willed

And, as Vince patted and stuffed the woollen jersey as tightly as he could into the place where the water rushed up, Mike sat fast, till with a rush they glided by the dangerous rock, and the boy strained his eyes to catch the next danger

Nothing was very near, and he spoke

”Will she sink, Cinder?” he said; and it see time, in his terrible anxiety, before his companion spoke

”No There's a lot of water in, but if you can look out and steer, I can hold the sheet and bale”

He handed the sheet to Mike, crept forward, opened the locker in the bows, and took out an old tin pot kept for the purpose, crept back and took the sheet again, as he knelt down in the water and began to bale, scooping it up, and sending it flying over the side, but without see to make much iht; you kno to pass it,” said Vince, without ceasing his work, but sending the water flying to leeward; and for the next quarter of an hour he did not cease--not even turning his head when they went dangerously near rock after rock

It was only when, with a deep, catching sigh, Mike said that the current did not see, that he looked up and saw that the rocky point of the island was nearly a couple of miles away

”Which way shall I steer?” said Mike; and Vince stood up to take in their position

”If we go round the point with the tide we shall have to fight against the wind and the current that sets along the west shore,” he said

”That won't do We ainst that mill race?” cried Mike in dismay