"Shiver me!" gasped Bunce, dazed and bewildered by the suddenness of it all.
Then Motor Matt's and McGlory's shocked senses laid hold of another detail of the situation which was most astounding.
The green patch had been shaken from the mariner's head, and he was peering around him with two good eyes!
"Tell me about that!" roared McGlory, pointing. "Look at his lamps, Matt! He's got two!"
"I see," answered Matt grimly. "Suppose we approach closer, Joe, and find out about this."
Bunce watched the boys descend from the speeder and advance upon him, but there was still a dazed gleam in his eyes which proved that he was slow in recovering his wits.
"Are you all right, Bunce?" asked Matt, reaching the mariner's side and bending down.
"That—that craft must have—have turned a handspring," mumbled Bunce. "Purty tolerable blow we had, mates, an' I was snatched away from the bench, an' tossed overboard. It was done so quick I—I hardly knowed what was goin' on. By the seven holy spritsails! it's a wonder I'm shipshape an' all together." He got up slowly and began feeling gingerly of his arms and legs. "Nothin' busted, I guess," he added.
The ground where he had landed was cushioned with sand. To this fact, more than to anything else, he owed his escape from injury.
McGlory picked up the green patch.