"Agnold!"
My mouth, my limbs, were free, but I could not speak, I could not move.
"Agnold! Don't you hear me? It's Bob--Bob Tucker! I've found you at last--you're saved! Speak one word to me; move your head, to show you understand me."
I smiled feebly; I had had so many of these dreams; I did not open my eyes.
"Great God! Have I come too late? Oh, you black-hearted villain, your life shall pay for it!"
Gentle hands raised my head. My eyes, my face, were bathed with cold water; a few drops of weak spirits were poured into my mouth, which I swallowed with difficulty. Surely there was here no delusion!
"That's right, Agnold; that's right old friend. We'll soon pull you round. You are too weak to speak--I see that. But don't you want to hear about Sophy?"
Sophy? I strove to struggle to my feet, and fell back into the friendly arms ready to receive me. I opened my eyes; they fell upon Bob, who smiled and nodded at me. If this was delusion then, indeed, I was mad.
"For God's sake don't deceive me, Bob!" He must have followed my words in the movement of my lips, for sound scarcely issued from them. "This is real. You are my friend, Bob Tucker?"
"I am your friend, Bob Tucker, who ought to be whipped at the cart's tail for not having found you before. But I am in time, and I thank God for it!"