"You're all being made fools of," he said, getting up and stamping. "I tell you he pushed me over-board for the purpose."
"Oh, father! how can you?" demanded Venia, angrily. "He saved your life."
"He pushed me in," repeated the farmer. "Told me to look at a jelly-fish and pushed me in."
"What for?" inquired Sergeant Daly.
"Because—" said Mr. Turnbull. He looked at the unconscious sergeant, and the words on his lips died away in an inarticulate growl.
"What for?" pursued the sergeant, in triumph. "Be reasonable, Mr. Turnbull. Where's the reason in pushing you overboard and then nearly losing his life saving you? That would be a fool's trick. It was as fine a thing as ever I saw."
"What you 'ad, Mr. Turnbull," said the stout fisherman, tapping him on the arm, "was a little touch o' the sun."
"What felt to you like a push," said another man, "and over you went."
"As easy as easy," said a third.
"You're red in the face now," said the stout fisherman, regarding him critically, "and your eyes are starting. You take my advice and get 'ome and get to bed, and the first thing you'll do when you get your senses back will be to go round and thank Mr. Blundell for all 'e's done for you."