“Ay, ay, sir,” shouted the man, rising so suddenly that he struck his head a violent blow against the floor of the bunk above him. “I say, don’t wake a man quite so hard!” he grumbled, and then, as he recognised the speaker, “Beg pardon, sir, didn’t know it was you.”
“Why, how did you get here?” cried Oliver.
“Get here, sir? Oh, I walked it, and was that bet out that I tumbled in at once. Tommy Smith got back?”
“Yes, and all of them,” cried the mate. “Here, pass the word for Smith, and tell him it isn’t a ghost.”
“I’m here, sir,” said a gruff voice as the hatchway was filled up by a body which darkened the light. “Is it alive?”
“Tommy ahoy!” cried Wriggs hoarsely. “I got back fust.”
“But how?” cried Oliver. “You did not pass us and come out the way we went in.”
“No, sir; I went out t’other way by the back door.”
“Is he all right—alive?” cried Panton, in a voice full of hysterical excitement as he scrambled down, followed by Drew.
“He seems to be,” said the mate. “Are you sure you’re alive, Wriggs?”