'Far jollier,' said Harry, looking at the pebbles underneath the bright waves and the masses of seaweed swaying to and fro--'ugh, it is cold though!' When his splash had subsided he saw the island boys swimming far ahead of him. In a little while he began to feel tired, and the waves seemed to be growing bigger and bigger, and stronger and stronger. When he was able to see over their crests he could make out the other two sitting upon a rock which raised its head out of the water, and waiting for him. After considerable efforts he reached the islet, grasped a point of rock, and drew himself on to dry land. The others looked at him approvingly. Gerald was still splashing in shallow water near the shore. 'Good for you,' said Reggie; 'it's a pretty stiff sea for a fellow who has only practised in a swimming-bath.' Harry did not look quite pleased. 'I say,' began Allan, 'look at Gerald, he's actually trying to come out to us. He is a plucky little chap.' 'That he is,' said Hamish. 'I'll swim back and see if I can help him.' He dropped into the water and swam to meet Gerald, who was struggling gallantly along, making very wry faces, and swallowing quantities of water. With the bigger boy swimming by his side and occasionally helping him Gerald got along fairly well, and in a little while clambered on to the rocks, looking exceedingly happy. Diving from steep places and swimming until they were tired, then getting out and sunning themselves on the warm rocks or sand of the little islets, running races and pushing each other into the water, the time passed quickly, and they were all surprised when Duncan came in view signalling that tea was ready. They had been in the water long enough, for their teeth were chattering and they could hardly get into their clothes for trembling. 'I say,' began Harry with chattering teeth, 'you fellows ought to learn to tread water and to swim on the side. They teach these things at the swimming-baths. The ordinary kind of swimming does well enough in a place like this----' 'It's the best way of getting along, I should say,' suggested Reggie. 'Yes,' said Harry rather contemptuously; 'getting along is all very well; but when you're swimming where a lot of people see you, you like to be able to do the fancy strokes. You need to have lessons for these things though.' Reggie's dark, serious eyes exchanged a glance with Allan's amused ones. 'Good thing Marjorie isn't here,' observed Allan in an aside; and the other boys grinned as they thought of the way in which Marjorie always had a reply ready for Harry when he was caught boasting. 'What's that?' said Harry, his head popping out of the opening of his shirt. Allan was saved from the necessity of replying by the reappearance of Duncan, to say that 'The young gentlemen wass to please mek haste and come at once, as effery one wass waiting for them.'