Part 37 (2/2)

”I'd better cut, sir, on'y my knife won't open.”

”No, no, Tom; we can manage. Keep his head well up.”

”All right, sir. That was the beggar's flurry. Dessay he's turning up his white.”

”Hooray!” came like another echo, along with the splash of oars, and then half consciously Roberts felt himself dragged over the side of the boat. There was another cheer, and a strange sound as of a fish beating the planks rapidly with its tail, while Murray's breathless voice, sounding a long way off, said--

”My word, he is a strong one! I am glad we've got him.”

Then several other voices seemed to be speaking together, but in a confused way, and Roberts felt as if he had been asleep, till some one whose voice sounded like the doctor's said--

”Oh, he's all right now, sir.”

”Who's all right now?” thought the lad; and he opened his eyes, to find himself lying upon the deck with the doctor upon one knee by his side, and pretty well surrounded by the officers and men.

”Nice wet fellow you are, Roberts,” said the doctor.

”Eh?” said the lad, staring confusedly. ”Have I been overboard?”

”Well, yes, just a trifle,” replied the doctor.

”Oh yes, I remember now. Ah! Where's Frank Murray?” cried the lad excitedly.

”Here I am all right!” came from behind him.

”Ah!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the half insensible lad, and he gave vent to a deep sigh of relief and closed his eyes. ”I was afraid that--that--”

”But I am all right, d.i.c.k,” cried Murray, catching the speaker by the hand.

”Ah, that's right. I was afraid--somehow--I thought you were drowned.”

”There, there,” cried the doctor, bending over the lad and patting his shoulder, ”n.o.body has been drowned, and you are all right again, so I want you to get below and have a good towelling and then tumble into some dry things while I mix you up a draught of--What's the matter now?”

Roberts had suddenly sprung up into a sitting position, as if the doctor's last words had touched a spring somewhere in the lad's spine.

”Nothing, sir--nothing,” he cried excitedly. ”I'm all right again now.

I recollect all about it, and how Frank Murray saved my life.”

”Oh, it was Tom May did the most of it, d.i.c.k.”

”Did he help?” continued the lad. ”Ah, he's a good fellow,--Tom May.

But I'm all right now, doctor; and where's the fish?”

The lad stared about him in a puzzled way, for he had become conscious of the fact that those around him were roaring with laughter, an outburst which was gradually subsiding, while those most affected were wiping their eyes, when his last query about the fish set them off again.

”Why, doctor,” said the captain, trying to look serious, but evidently enjoying the mirth as much as any one present, ”who is going to doubt the efficacy of your medicine after this? The very mention of it in Mr Roberts's hearing acted upon him like magic. Did you see how he started up like the man in the old tooth tincture advertis.e.m.e.nt--'Ha, ha! Cured in an instant!'”

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