isky and
salt water he'd got rid of, I mixed the dregs of it with a little hot
water off the stove, and poured it into him. Then I filled up the
bottle with hot water, corked it hard, and slipped it down under the
blankets, to warm his feet.

"'That's all right, matey,' said he, his teeth chatterin' as I
snugged him down. 'But cut along and leave me afore the others
come.'

"Well, that was sense in its way, though he didn't seem to take
account that there was only one way back for me--the way I'd come.

"'You'll do, all right?' said I.

"'I'll do right enough now,' said he. 'You cut along.'

"So I left him. I was that chilled in my drippin' clothes, the
second swim did me more good than harm. When I got to the _Early and
Late_, though, I was pretty dead beat, and it cost me half a dozen
tries before I could heave myself on to the accommodation-ladder.
Hows'ever, once on board I had a strip and a good rub-down, and
tumbled to bed glowin' like a babby.

"I slept like a top, too, this time. What woke me was a voice close
abeam, hailin' the _Early and Late_; and there was a brisk,
brass-bound young chap alongside in a steam-launch, explainin' as
he'd brought out the boat, and why the harbour-master hadn't sent her
out last night. 'As requested by your crew, Cap'n.' 'That's very
polite o' them and o' you, and o' the harbour-master,' said I; 'and I
wish you the compliments o' the season.' For I liked the looks of
him there, smiling up in an obliging way, and Plymouth bells behind
him all sounding to Church together for Christmas. 'Same to you,
Cap'n!' he called out, and sheered off with a wave o' the hand,
having made the boat fast astern.

"I stared after him for a bit, and then I turned my attention to the
_Maid in Two Minds_. Her boat, too, lay astern of her; and one of
her crew was already on deck, swabbin' down. After a bit, another
showed up. But Dog Mitchell made no appearance.

"Nat'rally enough my thoughts ran on him durin' breakfast; and, when
'twas done, I dressed myself and pulled over to inquire. By this
time all three of his mates were on deck, and as I pulled close they
drew together--much as to ask what I wanted.

"'I came across,' says I, 'to ask after the boss. Is he all right
this morning?'

"'Why not?' asked one o' the men, suspicious-like, with a glance at
the others. They were all pretty yellow in the gills after their
night ashore.

"'What's up?' says Dog Mitchell's own