bottom for it—and he remembered that they had anchored in twelve fathoms of water. And he got it, without even sighting the bottom; but on the way up he sighted something else-daylight on the other side of the ship. That was the way to euchre that bilge keel; go well down below the bottom of the ship for the swim across and keep on until you saw daylight, and keep in it till you were past the beastly thing. He would try it at

once.

So as soon as he reached the surface with that egg he climbed up on to the accommodation ladder and recovered his breath, taking in a good supply of air for the dive, and then slid down and sank like a stone till he had got past the first bilge keel, then, swimming diagonally downwards, he got deep enough to see the far side of the ship on what one might call the sky-line. He was then safe and could complete the swim across without danger of collision with any hidden danger, as all were outlined against the light.

It was some days later before he let it be known that he had accomplished this feat, though he practised it each morning and evening. It happened that he got into an argument with another small midshipman - Woodward by

name as to which of them could remain under water the longer. The argument leading to no result, it was arranged that they should have a trial,

and one of the sub-lieutenants -Bolitho, a sterling, honest, good fellow, with a very high sense of honour-agreed to act as referee. The same evening, when the officers were bathing, the two boys dived in together from the gangway, Bolitho, with a stop-watch, taking up his position on the top platform of the accommodation ladder. They disappeared under water, and nothing was seen of either of them for just 1 minute 35 seconds, when Woodward's head popped up blowing like a grampus.

Where's Sartoris ? " he demanded as soon as he could speak.

They're off," was the chorused cry, as the mob of gun-room officers, in the lightest of costumes, fled across the sacred quarter-deck to see him reappear the other side. And half a minute later they broke into yells of delight when the boy's head broke water about thirty yards from the ship. There could be no doubt, even without the evidence of the sentries, that he had done the dive fairly, for there had not been time for him to have gone round either end of the ship. Still, Bolitho summoned the scouts to testify, and they all agreed that there had been no possibility of trickery.

The fame of this exploit spread quickly throughout the fleet, and the Unfathomable's gun-room urged their champion to try and rival Sartoris' performance. But he had never attempted to dive even under his own much smaller vessel, and when officially challenged by the Flagship to come and repeat the dive or surrender his championship, he declined to do either. Instead, he issued a cross challenge for a competition in deep diving, without the assistance of a ship to knock their heads against.

This was enthusiastically accepted by the Flagship's gunroom, accompanied by some taunts as to the reasons for the challenger's disinclination to undertake, or even attempt, what Sartoris had done. It was, indeed, suggested that he

Sartoris, however, was troubled with grave misgivings, and assured his messmates that he greatly doubted his ability to compete with so celebrated a submarine performer. But they insisted, and put all their money on him.

The match came off at one of the islands of the Grecian Archipelago at which the fleet was then lying. A shelving sandy beach was selected, running out into deep clear water. The gun-room of the Unfathomable came in one of her cutters, while the Flagship's, being so much more numerous, had to employ a pinnace. Detachments from other ships came in whalers, gigs, and skiffs, and the chaplain of the Argus, a sporting and very popular parson, came as umpire and judge. He brought with him a lot of shining tin plates for the contestants to dive for. These young gentlemen, arrayed in bathing drawers and and boat cloaks, sat in the stern sheets of their respective boats.

It was agreed to begin at 5 fathoms, and to increase the depth by half a fathom each time until one or other dropped out; each competitor to be allowed three tries at each depth, if necessary. The umpire's boat carried a hand lead and line, with which to measure the depth.

At 5, 5, and 6 fathoms both boys brought up their plates

at their first try. At 6 Sartoris dropped his half-way up, and had to have another shot. At 7 fathoms both got them at once, and at 7 both missed, the sun having gone behind a cloud, with the result that they could not see the plates. Waiting for the sun to reappear, they both got them at the secord try. From 8 and 81 fathoms the plates came up without a miss.

The 9 fathoms test was interesting. Jackson, the Unfathomable's candidate, paused half-way down and came to the surface. He had cramp in a leg, but would not give up. Volunteers among his messmates rubbed and massaged the offending limb for him, and he soon declared himself once more ready for the fray, and down he went for a second try.

To the consternation of his backers, Jackson returned to the surface without a plate. He said he could not find it.

No," replied the parson. "I cannot penalise him for my fault. I allowed him to go down where there was no plate. Anyhow, as umpire, I declare that he must have another try. It's only fair."

So Jackson had another try, and this time he succeeded, as did both of them at nine and a half fathoms.

Ten fathoms saw the finish of the match. As a matter of fact, nobody had any idea that either of the boys could have done as much as they had, and it was the general opinion that one or both of them would fail at this depth. It was a tremendous feat to get down at all in sixty feet of water, and none of the spectators would have dreamed of attempting it.

There was a general hush of expectancy as the two boys

E

plunged together, all eyes being fixed upon them as they swam down, down towards those little shining spots so far beneath them, but all they could see was the flashing movements of four white legs; they then saw the two bodies lengthen out as they became horizontal, and then two dark heads flying up towards them. They broke water almost simultaneously. But no plates ! Both had failed!

"I just touched mine," explained Sartoris, during the rest for breath, "but I couldn't stop any longer. It's silly, for I'm certain I've been a lot deeper than that. I was afraid Jackson was going to get there first, and I got a bit flurried."

Again they descended, and again both came up plateless. It was obvious that they were getting "done," for it was most fatiguing work. The parson suggested that they postpone the rest of the match until the following day, but he was overruled by public opinion, which was unanimous for continuing, the contestants themselves declaring that they were willing to go on if their backers wanted them to.

They had a good long rest this time and the tiniest nip of brandy-produced by the parson. This reinvigorated them considerably, and they both felt fit for anything when they prepared to dive again. The interest of the onlookers, too, was unabated as the protagonists once more plunged in, and their every movement

Never had there been so thrilling a contest in the Mediterranean Fleet.

The boys were seen, as before, to reach the bottom, Jackson this time a fraction of time ahead. They turned, and as they rose it was seen that no shining plates remained on the sandy bottom. They had both succeeded again.

A hand appeared above water, brandishing a tin plate, and and a head followed it an instant later. It was Jackson. Sartoris followed in a couple of seconds, but, as he reached the surface, he turned and dived again, returning at once without his plate. He had lost the match!

He had dropped his plate just before emerging, had at once followed it, but had not sufficient breath left to retrieve it, though he had actually touched it.

Oh, hard lines! Damned hard lines!" was the shout that went up from every throat. And it was said that even the parson joined in it.

Poor Sartoris had a bad time of it that evening from those in the Flagship's gun-room who had lost their money—and there were few who had not put something on the boy-and resented it, though there were many who bore him no illfeeling, and only condoled with him. Still, the epithets "butter fingers," "clumsy ass," "awkward brat," &c., flew about him, and one fellow who had put and lost his little all on Sartoris