"I guessed as much," retorted Hunston, "by the way you pulled to help a poor devil. It was nearly all over with me."
"Just in time. Well, that's one to us, messmate."
"Yes, and you'll find that I'm able to reward you with something more solid than thanks."
"Get along; me and my mate here don't save lives at so much an 'ed."
"I believe you," said Hunston, "but I should be a villain if I did not do something handsome for you if I could."
"I tell you what, mate, you shall lug me and my mate out of the water."
"When you get the chance," laughed the other.
"Jes' so."
"How came you there, though?" demanded the former sailor, suddenly.
"It's a long story," said Hunston, taking breath, and thinking up a good plausible "whacker"; "so I'll tell you without all the details."