“I say you escaped,” said Mark.
“Did I, sir?”
“Yes, of course. You are here.”
“Oh, yes—I’m here, sir! but I don’t know hardly how it was.”
“Can’t you recollect?”
“Yes, I think I can, sir, only my head’s so tight just now. I think this handkerchief I tied round when it bled does it, but I’m afraid to take it off.”
“Wait a bit and we’ll do that,” said the major kindly.
“Will you, sir? Thank ye, sir.”
“But how did you get ashore?” said Mark.
“In the ship, sir. I suppose the rain and the waves must have put out the fire, and what’s left of her went bumping over rocks and knocking about, making my head ache horribly till I went to sleep again; and when I woke it was all bright and fine, and the half-burned ship close to the sands in shallow water, so as when the tide’s down you can walk ashore.”