“Help!”
This was my last cry. My mouth filled with water; I struggled against being drawn down the abyss. Suddenly my clothes were seized by a strong hand, and I felt myself quickly drawn up to the surface of the sea; and I heard, yes, I heard these words pronounced in my ear—
“If master would be so good as to lean on my shoulder, master would swim with much greater ease.”
I seized with one hand my faithful Conseil’s arm.
“Is it you?” said I, “you?”
“Myself,” answered Conseil; “and waiting master’s orders.”
“That shock threw you as well as me into the sea?”
“No; but being in my master’s service, I followed him.”
The worthy fellow thought that was but natural.
“And the frigate?” I asked.