of the kroo rowers bobbed to the surface like corks, and knowing
what was wanted, merely struggled to keep their heads above the surface
while the water swept them ashore. Then the three officers appeared,
and rapidly followed the example set them.

"Two are missing," shouted Dick, "the fat little man and the thin one."

"Then one at least has gone for good," replied one of the passengers who
had just come ashore. "The Dutchman couldn't swim if you paid him. The
other could, no doubt. Hullo! What's happening, Stapleton?"

"I'm going in," said Dick, quietly, as he tore at his coat and kicked
his shoes off. "Look; there's one, and he's helpless!"

He had no time for more, but coolly nodding to the group, ran into the
water, and as a wave crashed into seething foam at his feet he dived
into the mass and disappeared. A minute later he was in the trough
beyond, and the wave which followed merely lifted him high in the air.
There was a warning shout from the shore, and a dozen fingers pointed to
his right. But did did not see them. Nor did he even hear, for the
roar of the surf was so great. But he happened to catch sight of an
arm, which was instantly submerged.

"That is one," he said to himself. "I'll get him if I dive."

Dick had learned to be wary, and knew that it is as dangerous to
approach a drowning man from behind as from the front when he is still
full of vigour. He dived, struck out beneath the water, touched
something, and struggled to the surface, clutching the tail of a coat.
He pulled at it, and slowly the fat face of the stout little passenger
appeared, and close to his that of the thin man, the one with cadaverous
cheeks. Then a pair of arms came into sight, and Dick gathered that the
stout stranger had gripped at the nearest person and had dragged him
down with him, making escape impossible, making it even out of the
question for the taller man to struggle for existence.

"Better get them ashore like this," he thought, with wonderful coolness
considering the danger. "There's a wave coming. I'll copy the kroo
boys and wait for it. Then I'll try to get all three of us flung on the
beach."

He took a firm hold of the collar of the stout man, who was apparently
unconscious, for his eyes were tightly closed, though his arms still
retained their grip. But the hold which Dick had obtained enabled him
to keep the fat stranger's lips just clear of the water, while it also
raised the other ma