"Sim!" said I, when he began to look around him, and show some signs of returning reason.
"Ugh! That's what I wanted to see you for, Buck," gasped he.
I could not laugh, though his wild stare and incoherent words were ludicrous.
"You are safe now, Sim," I added.
"I'm dead—drownded."
"No, you are not. You are safe."
"No! Am I? Hookie!"
I had placed myself astride the log, and was now in a comfortable position. I moved up to him, when I found it was safe to approach him, and assisted him into an easier posture. Gradually I restored him to his former self, and finally assured him that he was still in the land of the living, where he might remain if he would only be reasonable.
"Where are we going to?" he asked.
"Down the river."