seen cutting the water as he glided towards his victim, his
cross-cut mouth with its cruel, triangular saw-edged teeth ready; and
then there would be the water stained with blood, and as he rose to the
surface without, say, a leg, he would hear his mother's despairing
shriek, and then--

He had got up about a dozen ratlines while his imagination had painted
all that picture for him, and the result was that he set his teeth hard
and went on climbing, but thoroughly realising the while how it was
David Jimpny, the miserable stowaway, had lost his nerve, and was now
clinging above him in that absurd attitude, with his legs stuck through
between the shrouds.

Another minute and he was as high, holding on with both hands, and
listening to the buzz of voices on deck, but particularly careful not to
look down again.

"I'll think about what I'm doing," he said to himself, "and then I
sha'n't be afraid."

"Hullo! Jimpny," he said aloud, "what's the matter?" and, setting one
hand at liberty, he gave the man a slap on the shoulder.

"Don't, don't! Pray, don't touch me, or I shall fall," groaned the
wretched man.

"Nonsense! you won't fall. Get up through that hole on to the
woodwork."

"What, is it you, Mr Strong, sir?"

"Me? yes. I've come up to see what's the matter."

"Oh, take care, sir, or you'll tumble overboard."

"Nonsense! you've only got to hold tight," cried Mark to his own
astonishment, for he could not understand how the man's cowardice should
make him brave.

"I--I did hold tight. I am holding tight, sir, but I daren't move. Oh,
I do feel so giddy. What shall I do?"

"Try and be a man," said Mark. "The mate's horribly cross with you.
Here, hold tight with your hands and draw your legs out."

"I--I daren't stir," groaned the wretched man, "I should fall if I did.
My head's all of a swim."

"Yes, because you frighten yourself," said Mark.

"Now then, Strong," cried the mate, "is that fellow asleep?"

"No, sir, he's coming down directly."

"Coming down!" growled the mate. "There, take care of him and mind he
don't fall."

"You hear what he says," whispered Mark. "Come on up here. I'll go
first and show you the way."

Truth to tell Mark did not want to go any higher, but under the
circumstances he felt bound, terrible as it looked, and the remainder of
the climb over the man's head was not made any the pleasanter by the
poor wretch moaning out--

"Oh, don't! oh, don't! You'll push