"Please hurry up! The tide's coming in and we'll be washed off. Please come quick."
"How many are there of you?" Frank sang out.
"Two of us. We were knocked up here by the thunder storm and the boat is stove in. Hurry, hurry, won't you? The tide is rising."
"Why doesn't he come down to us, whoever he is?" said the Codfish.
"There's a channel of water between this rock we are on," said Jimmy, who was in a little better position to see, "and the place where those fellows are wrecked, and it's running like mad. Can't you hear it boil?"
It was as he said. The rock seemed to be in two sections, separated by a channel perhaps fifty feet wide, which looked black and threatening in the half gloom. Jimmy began climbing over the slippery footing in the direction of the channel.
"Hold on there," shouted Frank, "I'm going with you. You mustn't go there alone."
"Oh, don't leave us here," wailed Lewis.
"What, with me to protect you?" cried the Codfish scornfully.
"Nothing will happen to you, you big baby," said Frank, as he began to strip off his clothes. "I'm not going to let Jimmy tackle that job alone. Wait for me, Jimmy; I'll be with you in a minute." He was stripped in a minute and lowered himself carefully over the side. With the water up to his waist, he found footing on the rock and edged his way carefully out to where Jimmy stood.