At the instant when all seemed lost, he heard a sudden compact, saw the big man go hurdling over him, and then to his vast surprise heard him struggle to his feet to go clump-clumping away.
Then, as a clearer consciousness came ebbing back, Johnny opened his eyes to see a face looking down upon him; a strange, wizened, full-bearded face that seemed the face of an overgrown owl.
For a time he felt that he must have become delirious, and was seeing things in mad dreams. Just then the man spoke.
“Hurt much?”
“N—no. Guess—guess not,” Johnny said, struggling to a sitting posture.
“All right. When you feel like it I’ll help you over to my house.”
“Your house? Where is it?”
“On the island, just round the corner here.”
“A house on this island?” Johnny whispered to himself. “Why, then, this surely is a mysterious island.”