Larkyns
and the rest of the mids clapping on to the running part of the whip
falls, which ran through the block above, hoisted me up in a twinkling,
as if I were a sack of flour, to the level of the port sill.

Once there, I was clutched by a dozen eager hands, and my whilom
tormenters dragged me in, all dripping, and landed me on the deck beside
them--"very like a fish," according to the old adage; and bearing just
then the most unmistakable evidence of having come "out of water!"

After thus "landing me," the ends of the whip tackle were dropped again
over the side in the same stealthy manner in which my rescue was
effected, and as promptly.

My frolicsome friends were not an instant too soon; for, even while they
were congratulating me all round, and declaring I was the best of good
fellows for behaving so bravely and not "kicking up a row," though I had
gone overboard so suddenly, the big, broad-beamed powder hoy slewed up
alongside and Mr Triggs bustled down the hatchway.

Immediately after him came Mr Cheffinch, our gunnery lieutenant,
accompanied by a strong working party to ensure the rapid transhipment
of the combustible material and its storage in the magazines; and we
could hear the boatswain piping all hands on the upper deck to man the
whip falls of the hoists and lowering tackle.

I at once rushed away to my chest in the steerage, to change my wet
clothes, hoping to return as quickly as I could to see what was going
on, without my plight being seen or anyone knowing what had happened to
get me into such a drenched condition; but, unfortunately, Corporal
Macan caught sight of me as I was struggling to open my chest, for my
fingers were so numbed with the cold that the keys I held in my hand
jingled like castanets.

"Begorrah an' it's a purty state ye're in, sor," he said, eyeing me with
much commiseration. "Sure an' ye've got the aguey."

"Nonsense, Macan," I answered shortly, wishing to shut him up at once,
for he was Dr Nettleby's factotum and if he got hold of the story it
would soon be all over the ship. "I've only been splashed with some
water and want to shift my rig, that's all."

"Sphlashed is it, sor?" he repeated with a broad grin that completely
shut out the rest of his face. "Faith, if ye was to axe me I'd tell ye,
begorrah, ye looks loike a drowned rat, sor!"

"None of your impudence, corporal," I said with dignity, not liking his
easy familiarity; though, poor fellow, he did not m