thanks to those
fellows who came over on our side. Now, Preddle, my good friend, how is
it with you? Hah! Only been stunned. A nasty crack on the head
though."

He parted the hair to show me how the head had puffed up into a great
lump; but I had hardly bent forward to examine it, as the poor fellow
lay sheltered from the morning sun by the shadow cast by one of the
sails, when he opened his eyes, looked vacantly about him, and then
fixed them on me, and recognising me, a look of intelligence brightened
in his gaze, and he said quietly--

"My fish all right, Dale?"

"I--I haven't been to look at them this morning," I stammered, hardly
able to keep back a laugh.

"I forgot. I went myself," he said. "Of course. But I couldn't find
the bellows. You haven't taken them, have you?"

"No," I said gently, thinking that he was wandering in his mind.

"How tiresome! That water wants aerating badly."

"Bellers, sir?" growled Dumlow, who was looking on; "I took 'em to make
the kittle bile, and didn't have no time to put 'em back 'cause of the
boats coming."

"Ah, the boats," cried Mr Preddle, excitedly. "Jarette knocked me
down."

"And he got knocked down hisself, sir. Reg'lar one for his nob," said
Dumlow.

"Then we won, Dale?"

"Oh yes, we've won," I cried, "and the boats are a couple of miles
away."

"Let me examine your head again," said Mr Frewen.

"What, for that!" cried the naturalist. "Oh, it's nothing--makes me
feel a little giddy and headachy, that's all. But I think I'll go and
sit out of the sun for a bit. Why, we're sailing again."

"Yes," I cried; "there's a beautiful breeze on, and we've left the
beaten enemy behind, and--"

_Flip_-_flip_-_flap_-_flap_-_flop_!

The wind had ceased as suddenly as it had come on.

"Well, sir," said Bob Hampton, a short time later, "I never 'spected to
see you get to be skipper dooring this voyage."

"Oh, don't talk nonsense, Bob," I cried. "Look--they're coming on again
as fast as they can row."

The old sailor shaded his eyes and looked aft at the two boats, which
the men were tugging along with all their might, taking advantage of our
being becalmed to try and overtake us and renew their attempt.

"Yes, there they are, bless 'em!" cried Bob. "Well, sir, as skipper o'
this here ship, with all the 'sponsibility depending on you, o' course
you know what to do."

"No, I don't, Bob," I cried. "How can a boy like I am know how to
manage a full