“Yes, it was a plucky thing. He swum out from the wreck ere she sank, and one of the dhows ran up even under our guns, and picked him out of the water.
“Then both got clear away.”
Chapter Five.
“Like mountain cat that guards its young.
Full at Fitz-James’s throat he sprung.”
Scott.
“He watched me like a lion’s whelp,
That gnaws and yet may break its chain.”
Byron.
“Ben Roberts, dear old friend,” I said, as soon as the captain had finished. “I remember that sea-fight which you have just so graphically described.”
“And pray,” said he, “what and how much of it could you remember, seeing you were down below, and were so well used to guns thundering over your baby head, that you often went to sleep during general quarters? Now, just you tell me.”
“Well,” I replied, “I suppose it must have been the collision at the conclusion, for I was knocked all of a heap off the chair, and the Ay-ay and I threw ourselves into each other’s arms and wept.”