Commodore Junk — page 163: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

156 COMMODORE JUNK. repeated again and again, when, just as an impatient ejacu- lation was heard, there was a loud snap, as if a link had been broken, a dul] thud of a bar falling, and the panting noise increased. “ Now, lad, quick! Can you reach? That’s right. Steady! I can lower a little more. Easy. A little more away. You have all the weight now. May I let go?” ‘*Yes.” There was the clank of a chain. Then a heavy thud, as if someone had dropped to the ground, and then the chain clanked again. ‘‘No, no; wait a moment, my lad. Lower down. That’s it. Let’s leave these cursed irons behind.” The rough grating of iron sounded again, the heavy panting was resumed, and another sharp crack or two arose, followed by the fall of pieces on the sand. “That's it!” muttered Bart, as a dull clang arose from the earth. ‘We needn’t have been afraid of any one watching here.” “Tl help.” “ Nay ; I want no help,” panted Bart, as he seemed to be lifting some weight. ‘ You lead on, my lad. Pity we couldn’t have landed here.” The reason was obvious ; for seaward the waves could be heard rushing in and out of a reef with many a strange whisper and gasping sound, giving plain intimation that a boat would have been broken up by the heavy waves. ‘‘ Shall I go first ?” “ Ay; go first, lad. Keep close to the water’s edge; and you must kick against the rope.” There proved to be no need to trust to this, for, as they reached the water’s edge, where the sand, instead of being ankle deep, was once more smooth and hard, a phosphorescent Gomichbooksneo