n deep attention to catch the doctor's words, and whose
ears were not sufficiently acute to hear the splash, looked up as they
were going to his assistance, and asked, with surprise, "Where's the
doctor?"

The sides of the rock were so slippery, that the united efforts of Price
and Seymour (whose powers were much enfeebled from extreme mirth) were
not sufficient to haul Macallan upon terra firma. "Marshall, come here
directly, sir, and help us," cried Willy,--an order which the coxswain,
who was sufficiently recovered, immediately obeyed.

"Give me your hand, Mr Macallan," said the man, as the surgeon was
clinging to the seaweed; "it's no use holding on by them slippery
_hanimals_. Now, then, Mr Price--all together."

"Ay, and as soon as you please," called out the malicious boatkeeper of
the gig--"I seed a large shark but a minute ago."

"Quick--quick!" roared the surgeon, who already imagined his leg
encircled by the teeth of the ravenous animal.

By their united efforts, Macallan was at last safely landed--and, after
much sputtering, blowing, and puffing, was about to address the coxswain
in no very amicable manner, when the purser interrupted him.

"By the powers, doctor, but you took the right way to have a close
examination of all those fine things which you were giving us a
catalogue of; but now give us the remainder of your speech--you gave us
a practical illustration of diving."

"What sort of sensation was it, doctor?" said Price. "You recollect
Shakespeare--and `O, methinks what pain it was to drown'--Let me see--
something--"

"Pray don't tax your memory, Price; it's something like our country,--
past all further taxation."

"That's the severest thing you've said since we've sailed together.
You're out of humour, doctor. Well, you know what Shakespeare says:
`There never yet was found a philosopher'--something about the
toothache. I forget the words."

These attacks did not at all tend to restore the equanimity of the
doctor's temper, which, it must be acknowledged, had some excuse for
being disturbed by the events of the morning; but he proved himself a
wise man, for he made no further reply. The boat pulled in, and the
party returned on board; and when Macallan had divested himself of his
uncomfortable attire, and joined his messmates at the dinner-table, he
had recovered his usual serenity of disposition, and joined himself in
the laugh which had been created at his expense.

CHAPT