ing of nobody. Oh, no!
'tain't my duty to go about telling tales."

"Look here," said Harry sharply, "if you expect to earn any reward from
me, Zekle Wynn, for telling how it was that that net came over me--and I
own that it was very strange that it should just as I was swimming by--
speak out like a man."

"Oh, no! I can't go accusing people of what they p'r'aps didn't do,"
said Zekle; "but look here, Mas'r Harry, have you got any enemies?"

"Enemies! no," said the young man. "Perhaps Mark Penelly is not very
fond of me since we had that quarrel, but I've no enemies."

"Ho!" said Zekle with a peculiar grin. "Who was aboard our boat?"

"I did not see him as I swam up, but I suppose Mark Penelly was there."

Zekle nodded.

"Yes, and he walked round to the side; and I saw him, as I was shaking
out the fish, go and stand by them mack'rel nets."

"And do you dare to say that he threw them over me?"

"Oh, no!" said Zekle, "I wouldn't say such a thing of anybody, Mas'r
Harry; no, 'tain't my duty. I wouldn't accuse no one; but them nets was
safe aboard one minute, and the next minute twenty fathom was atop of
you; and if we hadn't hauled you out you wouldn't have been talking to
me just now."

Harry Paul jumped up and began to walk about the room, his face flushed
and his hands twitching.

"Look here, Zekle Wynn!" he said sharply, "I'm plain-spoken, and I like
people to be plain-spoken with me. Now, mind what you are saying."

"Oh, yes! Mas'r Harry, I am very careful what I say, and I'll go now;
but I thought it was my duty to come, and I said to myself, `If he likes
to say to me, "There's five or ten pound for you, Zekle Wynn," why, he
could,' but of course I don't expect nothing for doing my duty."

"Oh, you don't expect anything?" said Harry sharply.

"Oh, no, Mas'r Harry, sir; I never expect to receive anything for doing
my duty."

"And you thought it was your duty to come and tell me that Mark Penelly
tried to drown me?"

"Oh, no! Mas'r Harry, sir--oh dear, no! I never said nothing o' that
sort; I only said as the net was in the boat one minute and the next
minute it was all over you."

"Same thing, Zekle," said Harry sharply. "And you didn't expect
anything for coming and telling me this?"

"Oh dear, no! Mas'r Harry, sir," replied Zekle.

"Then you'll be disappointed," said Harry, smiling pleasantly, "for I
shall give you something."

"Oh, thank you! Mas'r Harry, sir," said Zekle, who