ft,
gently now, and take care you don't strike him against the edge of the
raft. So! That's well. Now, lift him inboard; that's your sort. Now,
off jackets, some of us, and let's sling him; he'll ride easier that
way. Are we hurting you, my lad?"

"Not much, thank'ee," answered Bob cheerfully. "There," he added, as
they once more reached the rocks, "that'll do, mates; lay me down here
in the shade, and tell Mr Evelin I'm hurt--presently, you know; after
he's brought the little girl round."

In the meantime Lance, almost as much concerned as Captain Staunton, had
hurried after the latter, and offered his assistance, which was
thankfully accepted. But there was very little that needed doing. So
prompt had been Bob in his movements that the poor child had never
actually lost consciousness; and after a great deal of coughing up of
salt water and a little crying, May was so far herself again as to be
able to call up a rather wan smile, and, throwing her arms round her
father's neck, to say--

"Don't be frightened any more, papa dear; May's better now."

Great seemed to be the satisfaction of the crowd of men who had
clustered round the group as they heard this welcome assurance; and then
in twos and threes they slunk away back to their work, seemingly more
than half ashamed that they had been betrayed into the exhibition of so
human a feeling as interest in a mere child's safety.

"If the little un's all right, mister, you'd better have a look at the
chap that pulled her out. His leg's broke, I think," remarked
Dickinson's gruff voice at this juncture.

"His leg broken? Good heavens! I never dreamed of this," exclaimed
Captain Staunton. "Poor fellow! poor Robert; let us go at once and see
what can be done for him, Evelin."

"You'll find him there, under that rock," remarked the ex-boatswain's
mate in a tone of indifference, indicating Bob's resting-place by a
careless jerk of the thumb over his left shoulder as he walked away.

Captain Staunton and Lance rose to their feet, and, the former carrying
his restored darling in his arms, went toward the spot indicated. They
had gone but a few paces when they were overtaken by Dickinson, who,
with a half-sulky, half-defiant look on his face said--

"I s'pose I can't be any use, can I? If I can, you know, you'd better
say so, and I'll lend you a hand--and let _me_ see the man that'll laugh
at me. I ain't _quite_ a brute, though I daresay you think me one. I