et the praise, Frank," said
Roberts gloomily. "It has always been so ever since we joined. One is
expected to devote himself in every way possible to learning one's
profession, and for reward one gets bullied and blamed for pretty well
everything. Nobody ever told me that I had performed a very gallant
act."

"Well, look here, what do you say to me tumbling overboard so that you
can come over after me and save my life?"

"Bother! Look here, Frank, if you can't talk sense you'd better hold
your tongue."

"If I did you'd only get more rusty. I say, Dick, I once read about a
fellow being saved from drowning."

"Me, of course," interrupted Roberts, in an angry tone. "What are you
up to now--fishing for praise of your `gallant act'?"

"Not likely," was the reply, good-humouredly. "I was going to tell you
about some one who was saved from drowning."

"Well, you needn't. I know all about it now, thank you, and I don't
want to hear."

"Never mind, old chap; I want to tell you, and it's very interesting and
quite true."

Roberts grunted and gave himself a hitch so as to turn half away from
his companion and stand staring away to sea.

"It said that when the poor fellow was on the deck again--you see, he
had fallen from the yard and they had to lower down a boat so as to get
him aboard, and when they did he seemed to be quite dead--same as you
did."

"Tchah! Nothing of the kind. I was only a bit insensible."

"Well, you were quite bad enough," said Murray, "and the doctor had to
bring you round same as this chap; and when he was able to sit up and
talk it was quite curious--"

"I don't see anything curious about a half-drowned chap coming to and
being able to talk."

"No," said Murray, smiling, as he watched his companion intently, "but
that wasn't the curious part."

"Well, then, what was? Oh, I say, I do wish you wouldn't keep on
prosing about what nobody wants to hear. There, go on and get it
finished."

"All right; don't hurry a fellow," said Murray. "I can't dash off
things as quickly as you can."

Roberts wrenched himself round so that he could look fiercely at his
companion, and he spoke with quite an angry snap.

"Is that meant for a sneer?" he said.

"No, my son; not a bit of it, unless it contains just a go at myself for
being so slow."

"Ho!" ejaculated Roberts. "Well, what's the curious thing about your
chap who had been nearly drowned?"

"They brought him to--" said Murray d