"Bones broken? Nay. I've got none of your poor brittle chaney-ladle
kind o' bones; but my head's cut and the bark's all off my right leg in
the front. Left leg arn't got no bark at all, and I'm reg'larly shaken
in all my seams, and stove in on my starboard quarter, sir. So if
you'll have me got into dock or beached and then overhaul me a bit, I'd
take it kindly."

"Of course, of course, Strake; anything I can do."

"Ahoy!" cried the old man, raising a hand as he sat in the sunshine upon
the rock, but lowering it directly. "Oh, dear; I wanted to give them a
hearty cheer yonder, but, phew! it's bellows to mend somewhere. Yes,
I'm stove in. Old ship's been on the rocks; all in the dry though."

A cheer came back, though, as Roylance and his men caught sight of the
two who had been rescued, while they towed the boat slowly along.

"How are we to get you back to the huts, Strake?" said Syd, anxiously.

"Oh, never mind me just at present, my lad," said the boatswain; "what I
want to see is that there boat got alongside o' our harbour--on'y
'tarn't a harbour--and made fast with all the rope you can find. Maybe
she's got a cable aboard. I should break my heart if she weer to break
adrift now."

"Mr Roylance has her in charge, Strake, and I'll see to you. Where are
you in pain?"

"Ask me where I arn't in pain, Mr Belton, sir. I got it this time."

"I'm sorry for you, Strake."

"Thank ye, sir; but I'm sorry for you. There's a big job to patch me up
and caulk me, I can tell you. It's horspittle this time, I'm feared."

"But how are we to move you without giving you pain?"

"I'll tell you, sir. Sail again, and some un at each corner. We shan't
beat that."

The sail was procured, and the injured man was carried as carefully as
possible back to the foot of the gap, hoisted up, and then borne into
the hospital.

"Strake! Hurt?" cried the lieutenant.

"Oh, not much, sir; bit of a tumble, that's all, sir. Don't you be
skeared. I arn't going to make no row about it. No, no, sir, please,"
continued the boatswain, "not yet. I don't feel fit to be boarded.
Just you go and give your orders to make that there boat safe, and then
I'm ready for you. One word though, sir."

"What is it?"

"Have that there boat well fended, or she'll grind herself to pieces
agen the rock."

Syd hesitated, but being full of anxiety to see the boat that had cost
them so much thoroughly secured, and feeling perhaps that