"Quick, run with your sister to the stern-windows and jump out. For heaven's sake don't hesitate. We can pick you up." "Ay, ay," growled Bob Hampton. "Impossible! We are both fastened in," said Mr Denning. "Can you pass through that window?" "No. Save yourselves; you cannot help us now." "Over with it, my lads. Well out." We could not see what was heaved over the side, but something else, probably a piece of pig-iron, was thrown over, and fell with a heavier splash, making the phosphorescent water flash and sparkle, so that I could see the light dancing in the darkness for far enough down. Jarette's savage design was again frustrated, and in spite of our terrible danger no one among us stirred or said a word about the risk. "Do you hear?" cried Mr Denning, from the cabin-light. "Save yourself; the wretch will sink the boat." "I cannot go and leave you and your sister in this man's power." "It is madness to stay. You have done all that is possible. Captain Berriman, order your men to row you out of danger." "I am not in command," said the captain feebly. "Mr Brymer, then," cried Mr Denning. "Quick, they are dragging up something else to throw over." "I should not be a man, sir, if I ordered the men in cold blood to leave you and your sister," said Mr Brymer huskily. "But you are risking other lives. Mr Frewen," cried the young man, "I wish it; my sister wishes it. You must--you shall go." Mr Frewen uttered a strange kind of laugh. "If I told the men to row away, sir, I do not believe they would go," he replied. "Answer for yourselves, my lads; would you go?" "'Bout two foot farder," growled Bob, "so as they couldn't hit us; that's 'bout all." "But you can do no good," said Mr Denning. "Lena, my child, they have been very brave, and done everything they could; tell them to go now; it is to save their lives." "Don't--don't, Miss Denning," I shouted, for I could bear it no longer. "There isn't anybody here but Nic Walters who would be such a cur." I said the words passionately, feeling a kind of exaltation come over me, and everything was in the most unstudied way, or I should not have said it at all. The words were not without their effect, for they stung Walters to the quick. The moment before he had been lying shivering in the bottom of the boat, but as I spoke he sprang up and cried in a high-pitched, hysterical voice that might have been Mr Preddle's-- "It isn't true, Miss Denning. I've been a treacherous coward and a beast, but I'd sooner die now than leave you to come to harm." "A pity you didn't, my lad, before you betrayed us as you did," said Mr Brymer, in a deep-toned voice. "Ah, yes. Words are no use now," said the captain slowly. "No! No use now--no use now," cried Walters wildly. "It is too late, too late," and before any one could grasp what he was about to do, he leaped over the side into the black water.