Part 53 (1/2)

This incident startled, but at the sa of confidence in their oer; but as soon as they reco struck against Vince's leg, and in spite of his effort at self-command he uttered a cry

There was no real cause for alarrasped the fact that the bloas struck by one of a shoal of large fish, or congers,a rush to escape the enemies who had invaded their solitude, and in the flurry one of theainst the first object in its way ”I'ers,” whispered Mike ”I felt one of theone,” replied Vince ”Come on I fancy there must be a rocky shore farther on, as it's so shallow here, and it's all sand under foot”

”Not all: I've put my feet on rock several times,” whispered Mike

”Well, that doesn't matter There's plenty of sand Look out!”

There was a tre by them, while they noticed now that the sides of the place were once o back?” said Vince; for the sudden disturbance in front, evidently the action of large animals, or fish, had acted as a check to him as well as his companion

Mike was silent for a few moments Then he said hoarsely: ”I'll stick to you, Cinder, and do what you do”

”Then co of dread

”Can't be sharks, can it?” whispered Mike, as, in addition to the lapping and sucking noises

”Sharks, in a cave like this? No They're seals, I'm sure, four or five of theot to the end Hark! Don't you hear? There is a sort of shore there, and they are crawling about”

He waded forward two or three steps, holding up the light as high as he could; but the feeble rays, half quenched by the thin, dull horn, did not penetrate the glooe noises went on, the boy lowered the lanthorn, opened the door, and turned the light in the direction just before theleamed at them out of the darkness, seen vividly for a ain, like fiery spots, somewhere else

Mike wanted to ask if they really were seals; but in spite of a brave effort to be fire, and, standing there in the water, he felt so helpless Every word about the horrors of the Black Scraw told to theue clove to the roof of histhe roots of his hair

Then he started, for Vince closed the lanthorn with a snap and said hoarsely:--

”Hit hard, Mike Theydesperate”

”Go on?” faltered Mike

”Yes, and hit at the first one you can reach They're lying about there, on the dry sand”

His co a deep breath, he whispered ”All right,” though he felt all wrong

”Don't swing the club, or you may hit me,” said Vince ”Strike down, and I'll do the saether, and I'll keep the lanthorn between us Begin”

They h the water, which, after a few steps, grew rapidly shallow; and then they were out upon soft sand, striking at the diht; and twice over Vince felt that he had struck so soft, but whether it was seal or sand he could not tell Violent strokes had resounded fro cavern, as Mike exerted hi about him wildly in despair, while every fewThen Mike fell violently forward on to his face, for one of the frightened creatures , splashi+ng, and ing ceased, and Vince held up the light

”Where are you?” he cried, forgetting the necessity for being silent

”Here,” said Mike, rising into a sitting position on a little bank of coarse sand, which was composed entirely of broken shells

”Hurt?”

”Yes;--no I cah”

”Fall over one of the seals?”