ings worse
by knocking one another about."

"Well, yes, perhaps it does," replied the middy.

"Suppose, then, I do something brave than fighting you," said Aleck.

"What could you do?"

"Put the rope round me again and try to swim out. That would be doing
some good."

"You daren't do it?"

"Yes, I dare," cried Aleck, "and I will if you'll say that it's as brave
as fighting you."

"I don't know whether it's as brave," said the middy, "but I'd sooner
fight than try the other. Ugh! I wouldn't try that again for
anything."

"Very well, then, I will," said Aleck, stoutly. "You must own now that
it's a braver thing to do than to begin trying to knock you about.
There, put down your hands, I'm not going to fight."

"You're beaten then."

"Not a bit of it. I'm going to show you that I'm not a coward."

"No, you're not," said the middy, after a few minutes' pause, during
which Aleck ran to the rock and brought back the now dry rope in its
loose coil.

To his surprise the middy took a step forward and caught hold of it
tightly to try and jerk it away.

"What are you going to do?" said Aleck, in wonder.

"Put it back," said the middy.

"Why?"

"Because you're trying to make me seem a coward now."

"I don't understand you."

"Do you think I'm going to be such a coward as to let you do what I'm
afraid to do myself?"

"Then you would be afraid to go again?"

"Yes, of course I should be. So would you."

"Yes, I can't help feeling horribly afraid; but I'll do it," said Aleck.

"To show you're not a coward?"

"Partly that, and partly because I fancy that perhaps I could swim out
this time."

"And I'm sure you couldn't," said the middy, "and I shan't let you go."

"You can't stop me?"

"Yes, I can; I won't hold the rope."

"Then I'll go without."

"Why, there'll be no one to pull you back if you get stuck."

"I don't care; I'll go all the same."

"Then you are a coward," cried the middy, triumphantly.

"Mind what you're about," said Aleck, hotly. "Don't you say that
again."

"Yes, I will. You're a coward, for you're going to try and swim out,
and leave your comrade, who daren't do it, alone here to die."

"Didn't think of that," said Aleck. "There, I won't try to go now; so
don't be frightened."

"What!"

Aleck burst out laughing.

"I say," he cried, "what tempers we have both got into! Let's go and do
something sensible to try and work it off."

"But there's nothing we can d