bout him as he sat
astride in the bight, and then he began to swing himself to and fro,
describing a longer and longer arc till he found that he could reach.
Then with a sudden desperate movement he flung himself forward and
grasped Roylance round the waist, seizing the line the midshipman held
with his teeth, too; and then as, with the horror of despair, Roylance
exerted his failing strength to get a grip of the bight of the hanging
rope, Syd loudly shouted--

"Now, my lads, run them up." It was just in time.

In spite of the rocks and dangerous nature of the top of the cliff, the
men, who had been waiting, started away from the edge, the rope hissed
in running over the limestone, and Roylance and his brave rescuer were
literally snatched up ten feet as the shark made its second attack, but
only to fall back into the sea with a mighty splash.

"Haul now!" cried Syd, excitedly, for the men could go no farther.

"No, no, avast! avast!" came up hoarsely from between the sailor's
teeth, as he and Roylance swung to and fro just above the maddened
shark, which began to swim in a circle.

"Stop!" roared Syd. "Can you hold on, sir?" said the sailor. "Yes,"
said Roylance. "Then here goes. Loose the line, sir." His hands were
free, and he had taken the tow-rope now from his teeth.

Hardly knowing what he did Roylance obeyed, and with the rapidity taught
by much handling of hemp, the sailor passed the end of the tow-rope
through the bight of that which supported them, and then sent it through
again, and secured it with a knot.

It was just in time, for as he drew through the end and tugged at it,
the line began to tighten, and draw them out of the perpendicular, then
more and more away from the rock as the boat still glided away.

"All right, sir, I've got you now," cried the sailor, clasping Roylance
about the waist. "Now then, get your legs 'cross mine, and put your
arms round my neck and the rope too. That's your sort. Glad I saved
your end from going after all that trouble."

"Ready below?" cried Syd, as he looked down. "Well, no, sir," said the
sailor, "I wouldn't haul yet, or t'other line might part.--Did you make
it well fast aboard the boat, sir?" he continued to Roylance.

The latter nodded his head, and sat gazing down, shuddering, at the
shark.

"Then you'd best wait, sir," shouted the man, as they were drawn up
higher and higher, swinging gently like a counterpoise. "You see our
weight eases it