Page:Ballantyne--The Battery and the Boiler.djvu/203

 then he struck out feebly, as if trying to swim. Lying on his back his mouth and nose were above water.

"Gently, gently, boys," said Robin, as they lifted the head out of the water and slowly drew the shoulders up; "now, a good heave and—that 's it."

The body slid heavily on the raft, and the motion seemed to rouse the seaman's spirit, for he uttered a faint cheer, while they knelt round him, and tried in various ways to restore him to consciousness.

"Hurrah for old England!" he cried presently, in an imbecile manner, making an abortive effort to lift his loose arm; "never say die—s' long 's there 's—a shok in th' letter."

"Well done, old saltwater!" cried Slagg, unable to restrain a laugh; "you 'll live to fight yet, or I 'm mistaken."

There was indeed some prospect that the poor fellow would recover, for, after a short time, he was able to gaze at his rescuers with an intensity of surprise that betokened the return not only of consciousness but of reason.

"Well, well," he said, after gazing around for some time in silence as he lay with his head supported on the sail, "I s'pose it 's all right, and I 'll wake up all square in the mornin', but it 's out o' sight the most comical dream I 've had since I