e
fast, of the creaking of the blocks as the boat was run up to the
davits, and then of being lifted out on to the deck, all wet and cold,
with the water streaming from me. There was a crowd of excited people
around, but all dimly seen, and a loud humming of voices and an order or
two, but the faces were swimming round me, and the voices sounded
distant, all but one, which seemed to belong to my cabin, and it said--

"My gallant lad!"

Almost at the same moment, as it appeared to me, a rough hand caught
mine, and gripped it so that it would have been painful if all I was
passing through had not been confused and misty, as if it were part of a
dream. There was a face, too, looking down in mine with a woollen cap
and a red tuft, and a suggestion of a white flannel jacket, and a hoarse
voice said--

"Bless you for that, sir. She's my dear lass."

Then everything was dark again, as if my head had gone under water, and
when I saw clearly once more I was in the cabin and two gentlemen were
standing by my berth.

CHAPTER FOUR.

"Better, my lad?" said one of the gentlemen, smiling; but I was looking
at the other, who was Captain Brace, as I said in a puzzled way--

"Better? What's the matter? Have I been ill?"

"Only nearly drowned. I hope you haven't swallowed much of that filthy
dock water."

"Drowned? Dock water?" I said in a puzzled way; and then "Oh!" and I
started up, but lay down and said "Oh!" again in a different tone of
voice, for I had given my head a sounding rap against the beam above my
berth.

"Hurt yourself?" said Captain Brace.

"Not very much," I cried, "but I recollect now. That woman--was she
saved?"

"Ask yourself," said the first speaker. "You saved her, and it was a
precious plucky thing to do. Oh yes, they'd soon bring her round.
There, you don't want me," he continued, as he felt my pulse, and then
laid his hand upon my forehead. "Lie still a bit, and have a nap."

He nodded in a friendly way, and then went out of the cabin, leaving me
with Captain Brace, whose dark stern face did not look half so repellent
now, for it was lit up by a grave sad smile.

"Head ache?" he said gently.

"No--yes--a little. Who was that?"

"The ship's doctor."

"Oh. Did I go off in a faint?"

"Well, hardly that. You were nearly drowned."

"I couldn't keep up," I said excitedly. "She clung to me so."

"Yes, of course; we could see that. But be calm. Don't get excited."

"No,"