"Hookie!" ejaculated Sim, rushing to the point where I had seized hold of the raft.
AFTER THE EXPLOSION.—Page [221].
He stood there, jumping up and down on both feet, bewildered and helpless.
CHAPTER XX.
EMILY GOODRIDGE.
In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath. Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself. I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.
I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions. Sim was willing, but he was stupid; and I was afraid that some blunder of his would yet lose me the battle.
I brought the helpless girl on my arm so that she could take hold of the raft, but she seemed not to have the power to do so.
"Sim, mind what you are about now!" I called to my help.