Page:Under MacArthur in Luzon.djvu/110

88 "I think not, lad. But he's had a close call." The officer turned to the rowers. "Back to the ship, boys, and waste no time. This is a case for the surgeons now."

Once at the side of the transport, Si was hoisted on board without delay and placed in charge of the chief surgeon and his assistants. The medical men rolled him over and over and held him up by the feet, bringing forth a large quantity of the ocean brine which he had swallowed. Then they worked his arms, to induce respiration, and at last they had the satisfaction of seeing him give a faint gasp.

"He'll live," said the chief surgeon. "But had he remained in the water a minute longer, it would have been all up with him."

"This settles fishing from the rail," said the captain of the transport. "I want to deliver everybody safe and sound at Manila if I can."

"I guess nobody will want to fish after this," put in the officer of the deck; and in this he was right: not a single line was thrown over for the balance of the trip.

It was Walter who nursed Si that night and the best part of the next day. Fortunately the recovery of the Yankee lad was rapid. But the remembrance