"Oh, in mercy, spare me, Harry Paul," shrieked the miserable wretch,
"and I'll tell you all."

"Then he _did_ throw the nets over me," thought Harry, in spite of
himself; and he began to wonder why it was he did not make an effort to
drag Penelly on to the rock.

"Tell me, then," he said in a low hoarse voice, that he did not know for
his own.

"I will--yes, I will tell you," said Penelly; "only promise me you'll
spare me."

"Tell me this moment," said Harry sternly.

"You are going to let me sink down," cried Penelly in horror-stricken
tones. "Oh, Harry Paul, my good, brave fellow! help me out--save me--
save me!"

A curious smile curled the young man's lip, one which horrified Penelly,
who shrieked out:

"Yes, yes; I'll confess all. Zekle Wynn threatened to tell--to tell--"

"That you threw the net over me last night?"

"Yes--yes--I did; but it was an accident--an ac--"

"What?" roared Harry.

"No, no--I confess," said Penelly feebly, for he felt that his last hour
had come. "I did it. I felt tempted to do it when you swam round; but
Heaven's my witness, Harry, I only meant to duck you. I meant to help
drag you out after a minute, and so I did."

"How came you in the race this morning?" said Harry, in a cold, cutting
voice.

"I'll--I'll confess all," said Penelly faintly, "only help me out and
save my life. I'll go away from Carn Du, Harry Paul. I'll be like your
dog in future, only save me."

"The dog of a terrible coward?" said Harry coldly.

"Oh, no; but you are not a coward, Harry. Help!"

"How came you in the race?"

"I--I--swam off to the lugger. I meant to swim off and cut her adrift--
the lugger Zekle was in--he said he'd tell you. I got into the water
this side of Carn Du, and meant to swim to the buoy, cut her adrift, and
swim back, but I was caught in the race. Help me out--I'm dying! Oh!
help me, Harry! help!"

Harry Paul made no effort to drag the wretched man out, but gazed
thoughtfully downward into his eyes, while, under the influence of that
stern gaze, Penelly quailed and shuddered, his blue lips parted, his
eyes seem to start, but he could not speak.

"Mark Penelly," said Harry at length; and his voice sounded deep and
angry, and like the utterance of a judge, to the despairing wretch
beneath him--"Mark Penelly, I never did you any harm."

Penelly stared at him wildly, but he could not answer.

"You have always made yourself my enemy, and tried to ruin me i