e-and-stockingless society. With his foot dipping lightly in the
wave, he prolonged his repose.

They were slipping quietly along at the time under the influence of a
steady though gentle breeze, which had sprung up and filled their sail
soon after they lay down to rest. An early shark, intent on picking up
sea-worms, observed Stumps's foot, and licked his lips, no doubt. He
sank immediately for much the same reason that little boys retire to
take a race before a leap. Turning on his back, according to custom, he
went at the foot like a submarine thunderbolt.

Now, it was at that precise moment that Robin Wright snored, as
aforesaid. The snore awoke Stumps, who had another sprawl, and drew up
his leg gently--oh, how gently compared with what he would have done had
he known what you know, reader! Nevertheless, the action was in time,
else would he have had, for the rest of his life, a better title than
heretofore to his nickname. As it was, the nose and lips of the slimy
monster struck the youth's foot and slid up the side of his leg.

Hideous was the yell with which Stumps received the salute. Acrobatic
was the tumble with which he rolled over his comrades, and dire was the
alarm created in all their hearts as they bounced from under the
respective corners of their covering, and stood up, aghast!

"You twopenny turnip," said Slagg, "why did you screech like--"

He stopped. There was no need to finish the question, for the fin of
the disappointed shark, describing angry zig-zags in the water close by,
furnished a sufficient answer.

"He has only grazed me," said Stumps, feeling his leg anxiously.

"Only grazed you! rather say crazed you," returned Sam, "for a cry like
that could only come from a madman. What were you doing?--washing your
feet in the sea?"

"No, not exactly," replied Stumps, somewhat abashed, "but one of my legs
got over the end of the raft somehow, and was trailing in the water."

"Hallo! I say, look there, Sam!" said Robin, with sudden animation,
pointing to the horizon straight ahead of them; "is that the big raft or
a ship?"

"Neither, Robin," replied Sam, after a prolonged and earnest gaze; "it
must be an island. What do you think, Slagg?"

The incident of the shark was almost totally forgotten in the excitement
caused by this new discovery. For some time Slagg and all the others
gazed intently without uttering a word. Then Slagg looked round with a
deep sigh.

"Yes, it's