Syd Belton

"Ketching your shark and then running a little spar through his nose,"

whispered the bo'sun, as the men gave way and the boat surged through the water. "This here's lashed so as he can't get it out, and it keeps him from sinking, as he moves it afore him."

"But it's horribly cruel," said Syd, pausing in his wringing process.

"Well, 'tarn't nice for him, sir," said the boatswain; "but then you see it's cruel of Master Jack to be taking off arms and legs, and it stops that, sir."

This argument was unanswerable for the moment, and just then another shark was sighted, and its appearance fascinated Syd, who shuddered as he gazed at the monster, and thought of the horrible fate he had escaped.

"I wonder what father will say to me when he learns of my adventure," he said to himself.

But he had very little more time for thought, the boat soon being alongside; the falls were hooked on, and they were soon after swinging from the davits.

The first person Syd's eyes rested upon was Terry, whose face expanded into a grin as he saw the middy's drenched condition, and the boy turned away angrily, to see if he could catch his father's eye. But he only saw Lieutenant Dallas making his report on the quarter-deck, and his father standing there with a gla.s.s in his hand, which he directed at the rock, then seemed to give some orders, and the lieutenant saluted and came away.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

"Why, Belton, not changing your duds?" said the lieutenant, as he returned from his colloquy with his commanding officer.

"No, sir; just going to. Did my--did the captain know I was nearly seized by that shark?"

"Yes; I told him."

"What did he say, sir?"

"That you were to be more careful."

Syd stared.

"Was that all, sir?"

"Yes, my lad. I think he said something about you'd grow more clever by and by. But go and get on some dry things."

Syd felt crestfallen and hurt, that after such a terrific adventure his father should be so cool.

But down below the news had already spread, and as he went to the berth to change his things, a knot of his messmates were ready and eager to question him for the endors.e.m.e.nt of what they had heard from the boatswain and the men.

He told what he had to tell rather unwillingly, and when he had done regretted that he had said a word, for the careless

"That wasn't half an adventure," cried Bolton. "You should have drawn your dirk, dived under him, and slit him up. That's what the n.i.g.g.e.rs do."

"Yes," said Jenkins, "or else have had hold of his tail, and made him tow you. I would."

"Why, Jenky," cried Roylance, "he'd have taken you like a pill."

"I believe," cried Syd, angrily, "that you'd all have liked it better if I'd come back with one leg snapped off."

"Yes," sneered Terry, who was laughing by the door.

"No, no," cried Jenkins, maliciously. "Mike Terry would have liked to see him without any fistusses."

"Why?" said Roylance.

"'Cause he could lick him then."

"I'll put that down in my log, Baby," said Terry, with an ugly laugh.

"You're getting deeply in my debt, and you'll have to pay, or I shall have to pay you."

"Oh, lor'," cried the little middy, diving under the table in mock alarm, and then slowly raising his head up on the other side, to peer at Terry. "What would become of me if I hadn't a good banker."

"Who's your banker, Baby?" said Roylance, mockingly.

"Syd Belton there," and there was a laugh.

Terry ground his teeth together, as he turned away and went on deck, followed by a roar of laughter.

"Look here, I say," cried Syd, who bore his honours very mildly, "you shouldn't tease Terry like that, Jenkins; he'll serve you out for it some day."

"He daren't. I should come to you."

"And I shouldn't help you, for you'd deserve it."

"Very well," said the little fellow, "I'd fight my own battle. Who's afraid? c.o.c.k-a-doodle-do!"

He gave a clever imitation of a pugnacious game-c.o.c.k, after clapping his hands against his sides.

"Terry wouldn't touch him," said Roylance, laughing. "Little people are licenced to be saucy. But I say, Belton, what's the rock like?"

Syd described it as well as he could, and he was listened to with eager attention, but it did not seem probable to Roylance that anything further would come of it.

He was undeceived the next morning though, for after signalling and visiting of the two commanders, it appeared that something definite was to be done, and soon after the stir began.

"Here, Belton," said Roylance, "what do you say to this? I believe we're going to attack the town."

Contradiction came the next moment in the excitement on deck.

"This means business," said Roylance, as he stood with Syd, watching the carrying out of certain orders; and in due time two long guns were placed ready, the barge and the launch were lowered down, and gun-carriages and tackle were hoisted down into each.

The men worked well, for this was a change from the monotony of cruising to and fro on the look-out for s.h.i.+ps which never came, or which when overhauled only proved to be friends.

The sea was like gla.s.s, and in the course of the next few hours the guns were got ash.o.r.e, shears being erected on the rock, and the heavy ma.s.ses of metal and their carriages were landed, beside a good deal of other material likely to be useful in occupying the rock.

And all this while great excitement prevailed as to who were to be the lucky ones told off for the garrison, as it was laughingly called. But they were not long kept in doubt, for it was soon whispered that Lieutenant Dallas was to be in charge, with about a dozen men and a junior officer or two.

Who were to be the junior officers, was the question at the mess, the prevailing decision arrived at being that Bolton and Baby Jenks were the pair.

Early next morning the crews of the barge and second cutter were piped away, and a busy scene followed, as barrels and cases were handed down, till the boats were well-laden, and then there was a cessation, the crews evidently waiting for their orders.