limbing to the top safely dropped down on
the other side. The rest of the party, with one exception, followed his
example. When Higson came to the gate it looked so contemptibly easy
that he determined to climb it with his bundles on his back. Telling
Tom, who was next him, to go on, he mounted to the top, when just as he
had got over his foot slipped, and down he came, having his body on the
outer side and his huge bundles still on the inner, his neck being held
fast by the cord which fastened them together. A deep groan escaped
him. It might have been the last he would ever have uttered, but
fortunately Tom heard it, and turning back discovered what had happened.

"Help! help!" he shouted; "here's old Higson hanging himself."

His shout brought the rest to the rescue, accompanied by Dick Needham,
who had come up from the boat to see after them. While a couple of the
oldsters climbed to the top of the gate Dick raised the old mate with
his shoulders, and after much pulling and hauling his neck was cleared
from the noose, when he would have fallen to the ground had not Dick
caught him.

"I'm much afeered Mr Higson's gone," exclaimed Dick, as he placed his
burden gently down.

"Dead! why he was kicking tremendously just now," cried Tom, much
concerned, for he had a real regard for his messmate.

"I'm afeered so," repeated Dick, with a sigh.

"Let me see," said McTavish, the assistant-surgeon, and stooping down he
undid Higson's handkerchief and rubbed away at his throat, feeling
carefully round it. "Neck not dislocated, as I feared; he's all right,
and will come round presently," he said, the announcement giving
infinite relief to those who stood around.

As McTavish had predicted, Higson soon recovered; and as Dick was there
to carry his bundles the adventurers were once more _en route_ to the
boat. All hands were warm in their expressions of thanks to their
hospitable entertainer.

"You'll not forget `mine host' of the country venda," he said, laughing,
as he shook hands for the last time. They gave him three cheers, as the
boat shoved off and pulled away for the frigate.

Higson had been silent, while the rest were talking, as if brooding over
something; at length he exclaimed, "I say, Rogers, I'll not have you
call me old Higson--they were the last words I heard."

"Then you didn't hear me call the other fellows to your assistance,"
answered Tom promptly. "If I hadn't you wouldn't have been sitti