nd there with falls and struggles
upon the scrap of a deck.

Then Lawrence turned cold, for there was a yell and a splash, followed
directly after by a blinding flash of light and a loud report.

The struggle went on for a few moments longer, seemed to cease, and a
voice that he recognised said some words hastily in Greek, which were
replied to in hoarse panting tones.

Then the professor's welcome voice arose out of the pitchy darkness.

"Lawrence! Lawrence! where are you?"

Before an answer could be given there was the dull thud of a heavy blow,
and the professor roared more than spoke the one word:

"Coward!"

The struggle was resumed for a moment or two, while the Greek skipper
yelled out some order; but before it could be executed there came from
out of the darkness a sharp hiss and a loud roar. Lawrence felt himself
drenched by what seemed to be a cutting tempest of rain, and then it was
as if some huge elastic mass had struck the boat, capsizing it in an
instant. The lad felt that he was beneath the surface of the water, the
sudden plunge clearing his faculties and making him strike for the
surface.

As he rose he had touched a rope, which he caught at with the
instinctive clutch of a drowning man, and found that it was attached to
something which enabled him to keep his head above the water, but how it
was or what it all meant he could not comprehend in the midst of the
deafening rushing noise of the wind and the beating stinging blows of
the surf that was flying over him.

All at once from out of the darkness a hand seemed to be stretched forth
and to grasp him by the collar of the light Norfolk jacket he wore.

In spite of himself he uttered a cry of horror, but the grasp was not
inimical, for he felt that he was drawn up on to what seemed to be a
heaving piece of woodwork, and then a strong arm was passed round him, a
man's breast pressed him down, and the rush and roar and confusion
increased.

There were times when he could scarcely breathe, the wind and spray
stifling him till he could turn by an effort a little aside. Then for
long periods together, as they seemed, they were under water, as some
wave leaped over them. In fact, after a few such experiences he was
half insensible, and every struggle towards recovery was met by a new
attack.

How long it lasted the lad never knew; all he could comprehend was that
he was floating upon something in the midst of a wildly tempestuous sea,
an