"Lessels, we shall have to leave dada's umberellar, and the gold, and everything else, and fly for our lives," said Stanley, impressively, glancing anxiously towards the distant beach as he spoke.
"I can't fly," whimpered Lessels. "Let's call dada."
"He wouldn't hear us!"
"Dad heard me shout when I fell in a bucket of water at home," argued Lessels.
"This isn't a bucket of water, and we're not home now," replied the elder boy, irritably. "I believe I could swim all the distance to the beach—with one foot on the bottom. Then I could walk to the village and get a boat to bring you off; or run home and get dada and the clothes line; or fetch one of the life-buoys from the end of Southend pier."
"I'll come and get a live boy, too!" exclaimed Lessels, clinging frantically to his brother, as a wave broke over his knees. "Don't leave me, Stanny; I'se so frightened!"
"I can't swim if you hold me like that!" said Stanley, rolling up his shirt sleeves with sudden determination. "You'll have to let me tow you to land by the hair of your head. Drowning people have to stun each other sometimes to keep one another quiet while they are rescued," he added, darkly.
THE RESCUE OF THE MINERS.
At this distressing moment a well-known form appeared on the beach, and the terrified miners shouted and waved their caps simultaneously.