"So," began the questioner grandly, as if to awe his man into a becoming deference, "you are the person who, according to Mr. Reed, rescued the twins? How—I mean in what way, by what means—did you save them?"
"Mostly by tryin', your honor," replied Jack, sullenly.
Eben Slade looked vexed, but he returned blandly:
"Undoubtedly so. But I want the details of the saving. Let us hear from the beginning."
"There warn't any beginning," growled Jack. "The first we knew about it, it was all over."
"Well, but you had some part in the wreck, hadn't you? What was it?"
"I didn't have no part in it, bless you," replied Jack, with grim humor, "it did itself."
"Clever tar!" exclaimed Mr. Slade, in mock admiration, inwardly resolved to conciliate the man, if possible, by letting him have his own way for a while. "Well, I was on the wrong tack, as you sailors would say. Now, to start fair, can you tell me what happened after the first shock of the shipwreck was over? Which of the children did you pick up first?"
"Sorry I can't oblige you," said Jack; "but you see it was night, and, besides, I'd forgot my specs."
"Have you any recollection whatever on that point, Jack?" asked Mr. Reed, though he well knew what the answer must be.