, to plunge with a tremendous splash ten
feet below, the deep water closing instantly over his head.

"He's gone, sir," said one of the sailors, turning to his officer.

"Well, can't I see he has gone, you stupid, cutter-fingered swab?" cried
the middy. "Here, back into the boat and round to the other side of the
pier. You'll easily catch him then."

"Not they," said Aleck, quietly; "didn't I tell you he was as quick and
slippery as a conger?"

"Look sharp! Be smart, men," cried the middy, angrily.

"What's the good of tiring the lads for nothing?" said Aleck, as the men
began to scramble into the cutter. "It will take them nearly ten
minutes to get round to where he went off."

"Would it?"

"Of course."

"But, I say," said the middy, anxiously, "mightn't he be drowned?"

"Just about as likely as that dogfish he threw at you. Come and look!"

Aleck led the way up the steps, followed by the young officer, and then
as they crossed the pier they came in sight directly of the boy,
swimming easily, side stroke, for a group of rocks which formed the
starting-point of the pier curve, and beyond which were several places
where the boy could land.

"He'll be ashore before we could get near him," said Aleck.

"What! Shall I have to let him go?" cried the middy.

"Of course! He got a tremendous crack on the legs from Tom Bodger's
stick--he was nearly frightened to death; and he has had a thorough
ducking. Isn't that enough?"

"Well, it will have to be," said the middy, in a disappointed tone. "I
meant him to be treed up and flogged."

Aleck looked at him in rather an amused fashion.

"Well, what are you staring at?" said the middy, importantly.

"I was only wondering whether you would be able to order the boy to be
flogged."

"Well--er--that is," said the midshipman, flushing a little; "I--er--
said I should give him--er--report it to the captain, who would give the
orders on my statement. It's the same thing, you know, as if I gave the
flogging. `I'll give a man a flogging' doesn't, of course, mean that I,
as an officer, should give it with my own hands. See?"

"Yes, I see," said Aleck, quietly.

"Sit fast there," cried the middy to his men, as he began to descend the
steps. "Let the young scoundrel go."

Just then Aleck glanced round and saw that the officer who had gone
ashore was returning, followed by the man who had accompanied him, and
he turned to Bodger, who stood waiting for orders,