Part 65 (1/2)

”Then I say hooray! hooray! But can't you swim out?”

”No We've tried”

”Ho!” caet help for us, Tom?”

”Ay, ay, my lad,” came back ”But jest you wait”

Then there was silence, and the prisoners joined hands, to kneel, waiting and listening

”He has gone for help,” said the ets back that little hole that let his words in will be shut up again”

”Never ely; ”he knoe're here”

”Oh, but why didn't I think to tell hiet the stones out froone,” said the middy ”Ahoy there!”

There was a peculiar sound as of the water rising up and gurgling along a channel, while a lapping sound at their feet told that the water inside was being put in motion

”Why, he has dived down,” cried Aleck, suddenly, ”so as to try and get to us”

”Tchah! Nonsense That squat little wooden-legged man couldn't swi period they heard a louder splash, followed by another, and the illuan to dance and a curious ebullition to be faintly seen

Then there was a panting sigh, and a familiar voice cried:

”Where'bouts are yer?”

”Here, here!” cried the lads, in a breath, and the nexttowards them, which took shapeon his back

”What cheer-ho!” ca ”Lend us a hand, et soundings forthat lanthorn a bit forrarder?

That's right; now I can see where I go”

Toed to find a hold for his stu himself as well as he could for the fact that he had a lad holding tightly on to each hand

”Well, yer don't feel like ghostses, my lads!” cried the sailor ”This here's solid flesh and bone, and it's rayther disappynting like”

”Disappointing, Tom?”

”Yes, Master Aleck Yer see, your uncle says: 'You find the poor lad's reer,'--reive yer a ten-pound Bank o' Hengland note,' he says”

”Oh!” cried Aleck, passionately

”And the orficer there fro Mr Wrighton of the man-o'-war sloop, and there'll be the saht I orth more than that,” said the er, as squeezing his shi+rt and breeches as he talked ”So says I, sir; but it's disappynting, for I arn't found no corpses, on'y you young gents all as live-ho as fish; and what's to come o' et in?”