stronger than you are,
and we cannot afford to risk losing you."

Saying this, Jack, rushing into the water, boldly swam off through the
surf towards the man they had seen. He soon got up to him, but only
just in time to find him relaxing his hold of the timber he had been
clinging to.

"Come, mate, whoever you are," said Jack, as he saw him; "hold on, and
I'll help tow you ashore."

Bill and Tommy ran into the surf to help them as they landed. The other
man was so exhausted that he could scarcely lift himself on his feet.

"It's old Grim!" cried Bill, as he saw him. "Well, I am glad he has
escaped."

Tommy made them no answer, as he had not forgotten the many
rope's-endings old Grim had from time to time given him. They got him
up and seated him on the beach. He soon recovered his strength
sufficiently to speak.

"Thank you, mates, thank you," he growled out. "And I say, Bill, I told
you ill-luck was coming. What have you got to say to it?"

"That I am very thankful we have escaped with our lives," answered Bill.
"And so we ought to be; and I have no doubt that He who has helped us
thus far will help us still farther. That is all I have got to say now.
But hurrah! Surely there's somebody else floating out there on a bit
of timber. Jack, look! I am right, am I not?"

"Yes, Bill, and I wish I was a better swimmer than I am; I would go off
and help him. But old Grim cost me a good tussle, and I don't feel
quite as if I could manage it again just now."

Jack, in truth, had been considerably exhausted in coming through the
surf, and had now to sit down and rest himself. Meantime they kept
watching the surface of the lagoon, in the hopes that more of their
shipmates might have escaped. Bill was most concerned about Mr
Collinson.

"Oh dear! Oh dear! If he should be drowned," he said to himself over
and over again. "That poor young lady! It will break her heart--I know
it will, for all that she looked so bright and spirited." Suddenly Bill
started up. "Come along, Tommy; come along, Jack. I am sure I heard a
shout a little way along the shore. It is there where the pieces of
wreck are now drifting."

Grimshaw was too tired to move, but Jack and Tommy followed Bill, who
ran along the beach to a point towards which a large bit of timber was
drifting. There was a man on it. He again shouted as they approached.

"Ay, ay! We'll help you!" cried Bill.

Probably the man dreaded, should he con