cucumber," said his chief.

"Yes, I know all about that," said the diver huskily, "and so I meant to
be; but when you're shut-up in one o' them soots and are down in three
or four fathom o' water, and thinking your life-line's fast, you don't
seem as if you could be cool, mate."

"But you ought to be," said the chief severely; "and now, all along o'
your getting in a flurry, here's the newest helmet with a great dent in
the neck, so as it won't screw down on the collar, and I shall have to
pay damages out o' my wage."

"Better than having to pay to keep my wife and weans," said the diver
huskily; "and now I want to have a look at that young chap as dived and
set free the line."

"Here he be!" cried Josh eagerly, hauling at Will's arm; "here he be,
lad. Ain't much of a chap to have done it, be he?"

Josh laughed, and gave Will a thrust forward, much to the lad's
discomfort, for there was a low murmur of admiration from the little
group around.

"Oh, it's nothing to make such a fuss about!" said Will, whose cheeks
were burning now, as he stood there with the sea-water slowly soaking
from his clothes, and making a little puddle on the deck.

"No!" said the diver huskily; "it's nothing to make a fuss about; only
one man saving another man's life, when nobody else knew what to do!"

"Oh, it was an accident!" said Will kindly; "and they hadn't time to
think."

"Yes," said the diver, looking softly up at Will; "an accident, my lad,
and nothing to make a fuss about; but there's some one at home as would
have made a fuss about it, and you've done more than save me, my lad;
you've saved a poor woman from a broken heart, and six bairns from
wanting charity; that's all. Let's shake hands!"

He held out his hand to Will in the midst of a strange silence, and held
that of the young man with a very strong grip, before sinking back with
his head upon a ship's fender, and closing his eyes.

"He arn't a bad sort of chap," said Josh softly, as Will drew back; "but
I don't hold with a fellow, even if he have just been drowned, coming to
life again and calling a boy like you a man. You're wain enough as it
is, and you've no call to be. So come along ashore, and get home and
change them wet clothes."

Will said a word to the chief of the divers about where the lead weights
lay, and then stepped over the side to Josh, who was already in the
lugger's boat, without letting any one know that he was going.

Josh thrust off the