"You expect to keep me here all night?" cried Gertrude, in astonishment.
"Now, don't grow excited," pleaded Sarah Higgins. "Yes, you'll have to stay here until to-morrow, and perhaps some time longer. Now you had better lie down and rest yourself."
And then the woman tramped off, leaving Gertrude filled with wonder and dismay.
CHAPTER XXIX. A SURPRISE ON THE ROAD.
When Nelson struck the water he was all of fifty feet away from the sloop. Down he went over his head, but quickly reappeared and struck out boldly.
"Hullo, somebody's overboard from the ship!" cried a young man, who sat at the bow of the sloop. "Port your helm, Bob, or you'll run into him!"
The helm was thrown over, and the sloop veered around. Then Nelson set up a shout.
"Help! Pick me up!" he cried. "On board the sloop! Help!"