42 MARTIN RATTLER.

younker; we don’t want you to help us, and you're
too heavy for ballast. Slip down the side, Martin,
and get in while I hold on to the rope. All right?
Now I'l follow. Here, shrimp, hold the rope till ’m
in, and then cast off. Look alive!”

As Bob spoke, he handed the rope to the little
boy, but in doing so let it accidentally slip out of
his hand.

“ Catch hold o’ the main chains, Martin—quick !”

But Martin was too late. The current that swept
out of the harbour whirled the light punt away from
the ship’s side and carried it out seaward. Martin
instantly sprang to the oar, and turned the boat’s
head round. He was a stout and expert rower, and
would soon have regained the ship; but the wind
increased at the moment, and blew in a squall off
shore, which carried him farther out despite his ut-
most efforts. Seeing that all further attempts were
useless, Martin stood up and waved his hand to Bob
Croaker, shouting as he did so, “ Never mind, Bob,
Tl make for the South Point. Run round and meet
me, and we'll row back together.”

The South Point was a low cape of land which
stretched a considerable distance out to sea, about
three miles to the southward of Bilton harbour. It

formed a large bay, across which, in ordinary weather,