“Strong, you are keeping something back.”
“No, sir. That’s how it happened to the best of my knowledge and belief.”
“Very well, if there’s nothing further to report, I’m not going to heckle you now. Mr. James, see that the ropes on the top openings are replaced by pipe rails. We want no repetition of to-day’s experience. As it is, I don’t believe that there is another man in the fleet that would have come out of the ordeal alive. Where are you going, Strong?”
“Back to my post, sir. I’m all right,” replied Ned respectfully.
“Nonsense. You’ve been through enough to incapacitate most lads for a week. Go below and take it easy. Carry on.”
This was tantamount to an order, and Ned, although he disliked to go off duty at such a time, had no recourse but to obey. As he passed along the decks, the blue-jackets crowded about him to press his hand and cheer him. Through the throng Herc pushed his way, having descended from the after mast at express speed.
“Good boy, Ned! Oh, good boy!” was all that he said as he wrung his comrade’s hand, but his voice held an unaccustomed quaver as he spoke and Ned saw what an ordeal Herc had been through.
“It’s all over now, Herc,” said Ned lightly.
“That fellow Sharp, had he——?”
“I don’t know. I’d accuse no man of such a dastardly thing. But I thought, only thought, mind you, that I felt a shove as I fell.”