and high, and the water so
clear that there was every rock below us so close that it seemed as if
we could not go over some of them without touching.

"We'll row out to the buoyed grapnel," said Bigley; "make fast, and
while you have your bathe I shall dive down, follow the rope, and see if
I can find out how the grapnel has got fast."

"If you can," I said.

"Well, I'm going to try," replied Bigley. "I don't suppose it's above
three fathoms deep."

"You can't dive down three fathoms?" I said.

"Can't I?" replied Bigley laughing. "I'm going to show you. Look
here!"

He pointed to a big long stone in the bows of the boat weighing some
twenty-pounds. To this a thin line was attached, and I saw his meaning
at once.

"Yes," I said, "that will do it, only don't forget to let go."

"No fear," he replied; and we paddled on, with the beautiful view of the
cliffs opening out as we rowed farther from the shore.

We had nearly a quarter of a mile to go before we struck against the
floating boat-hook close to the now exposed rocks, when Bigley threw in
his oar, hoisted the rough buoy aboard, unhitched the rope, ran it
through the ring-bolt, and hauled on till he had the boat's stem right
over the grapnel, which still refused to come; so we made fast.

Bigley then began to undress rapidly, while I proceeded to work more
slowly, being curious to watch what he was doing.

I had not long to wait, for after making fast one end of the thin line
to the thwart of the boat he poised the stone on the gunwale, leaped in,
and then putting his left arm round the grapnel rope he got well hold of
the stone, and drew it over to descend with it rapidly to the bottom.

I crept to the bows and looked over to see his white body far below in
the clear water, and then he came up again to rub his eyes, pant, and
hold on by the side of the boat.

"Why, what's the matter?" I said; "seen a shark?"

"No," he cried, "but I've seen something else. Here, haul up the
stone."

"Bother the stone!" I exclaimed, "I came to bathe."

"Haul it up quickly," he said; and I obeyed, and afterwards lifted it on
to the gunwale.

He seemed very excited, but he would not speak about what he had seen,
only beg me to do what he told me, which was to untie the line from the
stone and then make a running noose and put it loosely round.

I did all this, wondering at his mysterious way, but only expecting that
it was to fasten round the grapnel so as t