And in the meantime the cause of all this commotion was experiencing a rather peculiar adventure.
Clif possessed to a remarkable degree the power of quick decision and action in cases of emergency. He seldom required more than a few seconds to make up his mind.
In the present case he was upon the rail and preparing to dive almost before the bracelet had touched the water. With all his promptness, he was not alone, however.
The young Portuguese boy—the chief spirit among the youthful divers—had also seen the flash of metal.
To him it meant a coveted reward, and his brown heels twinkled in the air just a second after Clif’s body left the top of the forecastle rail.
The two went under the water together.
Clif’s eyes opened after he vanished below the surface. He saw, glittering below him, the bespangled bracelet. And he also saw the dark shadow cast by his antagonist.
Of the two the native lad was probably more at home in the water, but Faraday had a store of determination and grit which made up for it.
As soon as he espied the youngster he realized the true state of affairs, and he sent his feet up with a spurt that shot him toward the glittering bauble.
It was a race beneath the surface of the old Tagus.