“Help! Help!” came from his right, and with the boat rocking from side to side he felt about along the gunwale till his hand came in contact with Aleck’s fingers, clinging desperately to the edge of the boat.
“Got yer,” said Tom, gripping the lad’s wrist and hanging over the side to speak. “Can’t yer hold on while I get an oar out and move her a bit furder away?”
“No. Help me in,” said Aleck, huskily.
“Right, sir. Here, let me get my hands under yer arms, and I’ll heave yer in. I say, wheer’s Eben Megg?”
“Out here. I’ve got hold of him.”
Tom Bodger whistled softly in his astonishment.
“Hold tight on him, my lad,” he growled; and then putting forth his great strength of arm and back, he raised Aleck right over the boat’s side, and as Eben was drawn close in, loosened the former and got tight hold of the latter.
“Can yer shift for yourself now, Master Aleck?” he whispered.
“Yes; but have you got Eben?”
“Ay, ay! Got him fast. Out o’ my way.”