It was just before midnight when Smith, who had
forgotten for the time his troubles in sleep, was shaken into
wakefulness.
"Cold water, sir?" said Billy gleefully.
In no mood for frivolity, Private Smith rose and followed the youth on
deck. The air struck him as chill as he stood there; but, for all that,
it was with a sense of relief that he saw Her Majesty's uniform go over
the side and sink into the dark water.
"He don't look much with his padding off, does he?" said Billy, who had
been eyeing him critically.
"You go below," said Dan sharply.
"Garn," said Billy indignantly; "I want to see the fun as well as you
do. I thought of it."
"Fun?" said the old man severely. "Fun? To see a feller creature
suffering, and perhaps drowned--"
"I don't think I had better go," said the victim; "it seems rather
underhand."
"Yes, you will," said Joe. "Wind this line round an' round your arm, and
just swim about gently till I pull you in."
Sorely against his inclination Private Smith took hold of the line, and,
hanging over the side of the schooner, felt the temperature with his
foot, and, slowly and tenderly, with many little gasps, committed his
body to the deep. Joe paid out the line and waited, letting out more
line, when the man in the water, who was getting anxious, started to
come in hand over hand.
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