“Well!” ejaculated Ram in his first moment of surprise. Then he burst into a roar of laughter which echoed from the roof.

“You’re a nice un,” growled Jemmy.

“Let him go, and come on,” cried Ram.

A sudden thought struck the middy.

“No, you don’t,” he muttered, as he wrenched himself round and clung to the man. “If you are going from here, I go too.”

“Got the lanthorn, Ram, lad?” cried Jemmy.

“No; and it’s smashed now. Come away.”

“Let go, will you?” growled Jemmy.

For answer the midshipman held on more tightly.

“Do you hear? Come on!” cried Ram.