t," shouted Macey fiercely. "Look! Old Weathercock's moving
his eyes, but I'm afraid of poor old Colonist. Here, hi, Vane, old man!
You ain't dead, are you? Catch hold, Gil, like this, under his arm.
Now, together off!"

They seized Vane, and, raising his head and shoulders, dragged him up on
to the grass, near where Distin lay, apparently past all help, and a
groan escaped from Gilmore's lips, as, rapidly regaining his strength
and energy, he dropped on his knees beside him.

"It's all right," shouted Macey, excitedly, when a whisper would have
done. "Weathercock's beginning to revive again. Hooray, old Vane!
You'll do. We must go to Distie."

Vane could not speak, but he made a sign, which they interpreted to
mean, go; and the next moment they were on their knees by Distin's side,
trying what seemed to be the hopeless task of reviving him. For the
lad's face looked ghastly in the extreme; and, though Macey felt his
breast and throat, there was not the faintest pulsation perceptible.

But they lost no time; and Gilmore, who was minute by minute growing
stronger, joined in his companion's efforts at resuscitation from a few
rather hazy recollections of a paper he had once read respecting the
efforts to be made with the apparently drowned.

Everything was against them. They had no hot flannels or water-bottles
to apply to the subject's feet, no blankets in which to wrap him,
nothing but sunshine, as Macey began. After doubling up a couple of wet
jackets into a cushion and putting them under Distin's back, he placed
himself kneeling behind the poor fellow's head, seized his arms, pressed
them hard against his sides, and then drew them out to their full
stretch, so as to try and produce respiration by alternately compressing
and expanding the chest.

He kept on till he grew so tired that his motions grew slow; and then he
gave place to Gilmore, who carried on the process eagerly, while Macey
went to see how Vane progressed, finding him able to speak now in a
whisper.

"How is Distin?" he whispered.

"Bad," said Macey, laconically.

"Not dead!" cried Vane, frantically.

"Not yet," was the reply; "but I wouldn't give much for the poor
fellow's chance. Oh, Vane, old chap, do come round, and help. You are
so clever, and know such lots of things. I shall never be happy again
if he dies."

For answer to this appeal Vane sat up, but turned so giddy that he lay
back again.

"I'll come and try as soon a