sides which,
the sharks would take good care not to allow one of us to reach the
shore," he added, in a whisper.

Neither of the seamen could swim, and McTavish, the only other grown man
of the party, had had very little practice either.

"Well, then," exclaimed Tom, "I will try it! My brother Jack swam on
shore when the _Racer_ was wrecked in the Mediterranean, and was the
means of saving the lives of many of the people; I am not a much worse
swimmer than he was then; I feel sure that I could do it if I had a
companion. It's a long way to go alone through the silent water."

"Faith! I would go with you," cried Desmond, "but I am afraid that I
should keep you back rather than help you forward."

Archy Gordon, who had sat silent during the discussion, suddenly
exclaimed, "I am not so good a swimmer as you are, Tom, but I see no
other way of saving our lives, and if I go down I shall at all events be
doing my duty."

"Thank you, Archy," said Tom; "I accept your offer, and will do my best
to help you along."

Had any other means offered, the rest of the party would not have
allowed the young midshipmen to run so fearful a hazard of their lives.
Mr Houghton, especially, knew well the danger they would encounter from
the sharks, but he said nothing to damp their courage.

Archy at once began to get ready. Taking off his shoes and jacket, he
gave them to McTavish, and begged him to preserve them for him.

Tom followed his example, though not, indeed, with the same careful
spirit as his friend; he threw his jacket and shoes into the water.
They both kept on their socks, which were providentially coloured, as
well as the rest of their clothes.

"Good-bye, old fellows," said Tom; "we must lose no more time." And he
and Archy shook hands with all round. "Now, Archy, we will start, and
strike out bravely." Tom suiting the action to the word slipped into
the water, Archy did the same. On they went, keeping alongside each
other. Archy found that he could swim better than he had expected, and
he and Tom cheered up each other.

"I wish Gerald had been with us," said Tom. "Our chances of escape are
better than those on the wreck."

Now and then they turned on their backs, resting for a little; striking
out, however, with their arms and legs, so that they still made headway.

Tom, under his brother's instructions, had become a first-rate swimmer,
and for his age was wonderfully muscular; so that he was able to go