, and it was with more
or less curiosity rather than alarm that those ashore stood there,
watching, and waiting to see the close of the exciting little drama.

"There, George has put down his gun; and I reckon Jack told him it was
no good trying to cop the old pirate that way. Now what's he doing,
fellows?" Nick remarked.

"I saw the sunlight shine on something he's got in his hand," declared
Herb.

"That's roight," Jimmy observed, with conviction. "And it's a knife he
is howldin', so it is."

"Oh! my goodness gracious! I hope that foolish and rash George isn't
thinking of going overboard, and engaging the man-eater in a fight,
just like I've read those pearl divers do!" Nick gasped.

"Rats! what d'ye think George is made of to play such a foolish game?"
Jimmy cried. "It's to cut the anchor rope the laddy buck means to
thry!"

"That's right, Jimmy; and you can be sure it was Jack put him wise to
that," Herb broke in with.

"But," Nick went on, still half dazed, "he'll never see his blessed old
anchor any more, will he? The blooming old shark will run off with it."

"Let him," laughed Josh, in derision. "Better to lose a measly anchor
than have the boat go to smash. Looky, fellows, he's going to do it
right now!"

Every one of them stared as hard as he could. The two boats had not
gone so far off but what a pair of good eyes could observe what was
taking place, even though night was coming on apace, with some clouds
gathering overhead.

Jack had run the _Tramp_ alongside the erratic runaway, and George was
seen to clamber aboard his own boat. Of course, after that it would be
a simple job to press the keen edge of Jack's knife upon the strained
anchor rope.

"He did it!" shouted Jimmy, as the _Wireless_ was noticed to fall
suddenly behind the other craft, as though relieved from the unseen
force that had been towing her away at such a headlong pace.

And presently the speed boat was seen to move of her own accord, George
having turned his engine, and thrown on power.

They came back side by side, the skippers laughing heartily at the
harmless end of what had at one time threatened to prove a calamity.

"No harm done except that I must buy a new cable and anchor at
Beaufort," said George, as he once more drew up by the side of the
_Comfort_.

"I've got a spare rope I can lend you till then," spoke up Herb, who
liked to fish up all manner of contraptions from the depths of the
roomy craft, and