“Feel faint, Tom?”
“Ay, sir, I s’pose it’s that. I feel just as I did after that there cannon ball took off my legs. I’m getting better now you’ve stopped that ringing o’ the bells in my ears.”
“That’s right, Tom.”
“But is the boat safe, sir? Don’t let her go right down.”
“She’s safe enough so long as the rope doesn’t part.”
“Then look at her knots, sir. I did teach yer proper. Don’t say as you’ve tied one as’ll slip.”
“The rope’s all right, Tom.”
“Hah!” groaned the man. “Then if you wouldn’t mind, sir, just help me up the other steps and lie me down flat on my back for a minute. I feel as if that would set me right.”
“Come on, then,” said Aleck; “but you must help, or we shall both go overboard.”
“I’m a-going to help, sir,” said the man, with his voice beginning to grow stronger. “I think I can keep upright on my pegs again if you’ll lend me a hand. No, hold hard a minute like, sir; there’s no room for two on these bits o’ steps. You’ve got plenty o’ slack line, sir?”