me off! You'll fall! I know you'll
fall."

But Mark did not fall, and though he chose the easier way up he did
display some courage, and lay flat down to extend a hand to his
miserable companion.

"There, take hold of my hand. I'll help you," he said.

The man shook his head--wisely, perhaps, for Mark's help would not have
been great as far as sustaining him went.

"I can't--I daren't move," he said. "It's as bad as being shut up in
the hold. Please call for help."

"Ahoy, there!" shouted a familiar voice. "What are you doing, Mark?"

"Trying to help this man, father."

"Here, Jimpny," shouted the captain, "get up, sir. Don't hang in the
rigging there like that."

The man moaned, and only clung the closer.

"Do you hear, sir?" cried the captain; but the man was livid, and as he
gazed wildly up at Mark, the lad lowered himself down, thrust an arm
round one of the ropes, and took a firm grasp of his collar.

"What's the matter, Mark?" cried the captain.

"He's going to faint, I think."

"Here, Small, up aloft with a rope there," cried the captain, "and make
it fast round him."

The boatswain seized a coil of line and trotted to the other side of the
deck. Mark saw him cross, but was astonished to see how soon he
appeared at the mast-head.

"Hold tight, youngster," he said, "I'll soon give him his physic."

"What are you going to do?" cried Mark.

"Hang him. You'll see," said the boatswain with a chuckle.

Jimpny groaned and seemed to cling spasmodically to the shrouds as the
great seaman slipped the end of the rope round him and made it fast.
After which he passed the other end of the rope over a stay and lowered
it down to the deck.

"Ready below?" he shouted.

"All right!" came up.

"You get a bit higher, youngster. That's your sort. Now, my London
prime, let go with them hands."

"No, no," groaned the unfortunate man. "I dare not."

"Then I shall have to make you," roared the boatswain. "Heave ahead
there!"

The rope tightened and there was a tremendous strain upon the man's
chest, while, by a dexterous snatch, Small jerked one of the clinging
hands free and thrust Jimpny off the shroud, making him swing round in
the air, and this helped to jerk the other hand from its grip.

"Now you have him. Down he goes."

It was all so rapidly done that it took Mark's breath away. One minute
the miserable man was clinging there half fainting, the next he was
swinging in the air and