couple of
longish guns forward, and another pair aft, all evidently in the best of
trim, and ready for use at a very short notice.

While the men were busy the captain came to where the boys were standing
together aft, and laying his hands upon their shoulders, he led them
forward to where one of the stout hawsers ran over the side to the great
ring secured in the rock.

"You see zat hawser, _mon ami_?" he said.

"Yes," said Vince wonderingly.

"Look you zen at ze ozaire."

"Yes, I see it," said Vince.

"Vat you make of zem?"

"They look strained too much, and as if they would part."

"Good boy! You vould make a good sailor. Zey vill not part, for zey
are new, and _tres fort_--strong. Now you look here, _mon ami_."

As he spoke he picked up a heavy dwarf bucket, with its rope attached,
raised it above his head, and hurled it some twenty feet into the smooth
water between the lugger and the high cliff face.

The water was like glass, and streaked with fine threads apparently; and
the next minute the lads grasped the reason why, for the bucket had
hardly touched the water when it began to be borne towards the lugger's
side, striking it directly after sharply, and then diving down out of
sight.

Vince ran across the deck instantly to see it rise; and Mike followed,
the captain joining them to lay his hands upon their shoulders once
more.

"Aha! you see him come up again? No? Look _encore_ and _encore_, and
you nevaire sall see him. Vat you say to zat?"

"There must be a tremendous current," said Vince. "Yais,--now," said
the captain. "_Apres_, some time he run all ze ozaire vay and grind ze
sheep close up right to ze rock. Vat you sink now? You shump ovaire,
and svim avay? You creep along ze hawser and try to climb up ze cliff?
No, I sink not now. You stay here on ze deck and vait till I vant you--
ven ze boat come back. Dat is vy I show you how go avay ze bucket.
Look now again."

One of the boats was ready, and two men in her. The rope that held her
to the side was cast off, and in an instant she glided away across the
pool, towards an opening that had been unnoticed before, was deftly
steered, and passed out of sight.

"Why, she must come out where we saw the water rushing at the other end
of the rock!" thought Vince; and he stood watching while the other boats
left the side of the lugger, to be cleverly guided to the same spot, and
glide out of sight directly.

A feeling of helpless