CHAPTER XI
HOW CAME PAUL TASSH ON SEAL ISLAND?
Steadying himself on the rope, Atherton stood on the brink of the ledge and watched for the reappearance of the submerged man. The buoy was floating, but for quite a quarter of a minute its late occupant was nowhere to be seen. When at length he rose to the surface, the buoy had drifted ten yards to leeward of him.
Fortunately the seaman was a swimmer, and without hesitation he struck out for the buoy.
"Haul in!" ordered Atherton, as the man grasped the life-saving object, and passed it over his head and shoulders.
Promptly the "Otters" obeyed, till the Leader ordered them to stop. Another wave was breaking, and should the man be caught close to the cliffs he would assuredly be dashed to death against the rocks.
Down came the mountain of water, but instead of carrying the seaman with it, it passed harmlessly by, expending its energy in a blow that raised a column of spray forty feet in the air.
"Now, haul!" bawled Atherton, and to his relief he saw the man drawn clear of the turmoil of foam and unceremoniously dragged upon the ledge.
"Signal to them to send another line ashore," ordered the Leader; but in reply the despairing message came from the wreck, "We have no more rope."
"Could I swim off to the ship?" asked Green. "I'll risk it."