"My God, man," said the Ensign, with white lips, "I'd almost given you up!"
The voice beat painfully upon his ears and his senses were confused, but he tried to sit up. "What was the matter?" he gasped.
"Cramps, I guess—that's the usual thing. We'd better have let Major drown and gone out together. I had a nice time getting both of you back to shore."
Ronald continued his violent treatment until the other protested. "Don't hit me again," he said faintly, "I'm all right!"
"Pile into your clothes, then, or you'll take cold."
He obeyed, but slowly, for he was thoroughly exhausted and movement was difficult. Ronald was dressed long before he was, and insisted upon helping him.
"There, now you're fixed," he said, at length; "and if you're good for it, we'll go back to the bank and sit down a bit. There's no hurry about going home."
Forsyth was faint when they reached the tall tree they had started from, and was more than willing to rest. His speech was still thick, but he stammered his thanks.
"You owe it to Major," explained Ronald, diffidently, "for I never would have seen you. He started out, all of a sudden, and I went after him. Of course I wondered what had happened when I didn't see you, but I thought you were swimming under water. He found you, though. Good old boy," he added, patting the dog.