between the blankets.

We then set to work to rub his body with a coarse worsted sock, the
first suitable thing which came to hand. Having got some of the salt
water he had swallowed out of his mouth, Hanks poured a little warm grog
into it instead. This, with the rubbing, had the effect of speedily
restoring animation. In a few minutes he opened his eyes, and tried to
sit up and look about him.

"Hillo! where am I? I say, are the poor fellows all picked up?" he
asked, in a weak tone.

I liked him at once for thinking of his men.

"All right, mate," I answered; "no harm has come of the capsize, except
a few wet jackets."

Just then, on looking round, I saw a man, who by his uniform I knew to
be a naval surgeon, standing near me. "So I see you've saved me my
work, gentlemen," he said, smiling. "You could not have acted better
than you appear to have done; and, thanks to you, we shall soon have him
all right again."

"Thank'ee, Doctor, I've come round pretty well already," sung out the
midshipman. "But, I say, mate, I just want another glass of your stuff.
It's prime physic."

The medico smelt the tumbler, which stood on the table full of grog, and
then felt the youngster's pulse and looked at his tongue.

"You may take half a glass--it's quite enough for you, and then we'll
have you wrapped up in blankets, and carried on board," he answered.

"Oh, thank'ee, Doctor, I'm very comfortable where I am, and my clothes
ain't dried yet; so if you'll let me stay here, I think it would be the
better for me," said the midshipman.

The Doctor's objections, if he had any, were soon overruled; and,
telling the midshipman to return on board the frigate as soon as his
clothes were dry, he quitted the cutter.

"What's your name, mate?" asked my new friend, as he was sipping his
glass of grog.

I told him.

"Mine's Richard Sharpe; but I'm mostly called Dicky Sharpe," he
answered. "Some of my messmates give me all sorts of names; but I don't
mind them. As long as they don't cob me, it's all very well. I'm a
happy fellow, and ready for all the ups and downs of life. I'm pretty
well wide awake, and know my duty, so I don't often get mast-headed. If
I happen to get a fall, I generally manage to pitch on my feet; and as
I'm some day or other to come into a fortune, I'm not troubled about the
future. If the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty give me my
promotion, it will be all very well; if not, why they'll have