, tighten it, and then,
after a quick glance round, seize one of the diver's leaden weights
lying on an upturned cask. Then stepping to the side he said quickly,
"Josh, look to the line!" and with the heavy weight held out at
arm's-length he leaped from the gangway, right where the air-bubbles
were still rising, and plunged headforemost into the sea.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: Net-making in Cornwall is called net-breeding.

CHAPTER TWO.

JOSH DOES NOT APPROVE OF HIS PUPIL'S DIVE.

As Will made his daring plunge Josh Heist on rushed to the side, and
stood with starting eyes gazing at the disturbed water. Then turning
fiercely upon the skipper, he caught him by the shoulder, gave him a
twist, and dragged him within reach of his deformed arm, the hand of
which fastened upon his waist-belt, and held him perfectly helpless,
although he seemed to be a much stronger man.

"This was your doing!" cried Josh angrily, but with quite a wail in his
intoned words. "You drove him to do that gashly thing!"

"Don't be a fool, Josh! Here, let go! Do you hear, let go!"

"If he don't come I'll send you after him!" cried Josh, with his face
flushed with anger.

"Do you want the lad to drown for want of help?" cried the skipper; and
his words acted like magic. Josh loosed his hold, and once more ran to
the side.

Meanwhile the pumping had been kept up, and a constant stream of
air-bubbles could be seen ascending; but the men who had hauled upon the
life-line had kept it taut, and were still hauling as those who were
gazing down into the clear water, vainly trying to make out the
movements of the two divers, suddenly uttered a shout.

"Here he comes!" cried the skipper; and Josh, who had been holding his
breath in the agony of suspense, gave a loud expiration as the lad
suddenly appeared above the surface, panting for breath, and swam to the
ladder, shaking the water from his eyes and hair.

"Slack the line!" he cried; "it's round a rock. Give me one of those
leads."

Josh, who had been the first to oppose the descent, was now the first to
help, by seizing the back lead left upon the barrel head, and, with
cat-like agility, leaping to the ladder and going down to the swimmer.

A dozen voices were shouting words of advice to Will, but the lad paid
no heed; he merely drew himself up on the ladder, saw that the life-line
was slack, and, clasping the leaden back-pie