he thought of having
a slip did once bring the perspiration out upon his forehead; but the
effort needed dulled the fear, and he soon stood where he was in safety.
But to listen to a companion undergoing the same trial in the darkness
was another thing; and Vince felt ten times the dread as he listened and
shivered to hear the ring-bolt seized and his companion slowly drawing
himself upward so that he could stand.

Suppose he lost his nerve--suppose he slipped and tell with a splash
into that black, spangled water--what could he do? Poor Mike would be
swept away directly, and his only chance of life would be for him to
swim steadily till he reached the rocks, and then try to find one to
which he could cling, and draw himself up.

But Vince did better than think: he tightened his grasp of the bulwark
rail by crooking his hand, and softly extended one leg over the streak.

This had the effect he desired. The next moment it was struck by a hand
feeling about. Then the trouser was tugged at, and directly after the
bottom was turned over and over, so as to form a good roll to grip.
Then, with this for a second hand-hold, Mike was helped, and his climb
on to the shelf-like projection became easier for the aid afforded, and
he too rose to stand panting beside Vince.

They felt that everything depended upon their coolness, and hence they
stood there, facing inward, holding on to the bulwark and listening.

But all was still; and at last, satisfied that it was time to move,
Vince whispered "Now," and began to edge himself along to the right--
that is, towards the forward part of the boat.

Mike started at the same moment, taking step for step, their hands
touching at every movement. It was an easy enough task this, for there
was plenty of hold and standing room--the only danger being that they
might be heard by some one on the watch, while there was the chance that
they had been heard and this was a new trap to re-catch them.

But their hearts rose as they crept slowly and silently along in the
silence, and then went down deeply into a sense of despair, for a
thought suddenly struck Vince which made him stop and place his lips
close to his companion's ear, and whisper,--

"Suppose, as Joe is going to stop, they have hoisted the boat on deck?"

Mike replied promptly, and with a decision that was admirable under the
circumstances,--

"Don't make bugbears. Go on and try."

It was rude enough to have brought forth a