incredulous. The sound of the sailor's voice, well-known as it was,
with something like the figure of a human being dimly seen through the
uncertain mist that shadowed the surface of the water, was proof that he
still lived; while, but the moment before, there appeared substantial
proof that he must have gone to the bottom. Their incredulity even
continued till more positive evidence to the contrary came before them,
in the shape of the old man-o'-war's-man himself; who, rapidly splashing
through the more shallow water, in a few seconds stood face to face with
the three brave boys whom he had so lately urged to abandon him.

"Bill, is it you?" cried all three in a breath.

"Auch! and who else would yez expect it to be? Did yez take me for ould
Neptune risin' hout of the say? Or did yez think I was a mare-maid?
Gee mee a grip o' yer wee fists, ye bonny boys. Ole Bill warn't born to
be drowned!"

"But how did ye come, Bill? The tide's been rising ever since we left
you."

"Oh!" said Terence, "I see how it is; the bay isn't so deep after all:
you've waded all the way."

"Avast there, master Terry! not half the way, though I've waded part of
it. There's wather between here and where you left me deep enough to
drown Phil Macool. I didn't crass the bay by wading at all, at all."

"How then?"

"I was ferried on a nate little craft, as yez all knows of, the same
that carried us safe to the sandspit."

"The spar?"

"Hexactly as ye say. Just as I was about to gee my last gasp, something
struck me on the back o' the head, making me duck under the wather.
What was that but the tops'l yard. Hech! I wasna long in mountin' on
to it. I've left it out there afther I feeled my toes trailin' along
the bottom. Now, my bonny babies, that's how Old Bill's been able to
rejoin ye. Flippers all round once more; and then let's see what sort
o' a shore we've got to make port upon."

An enthusiastic shake of the hands passed between the old sailor and his
youthful companions; after which the faces of all were turned towards
the shore, still only dimly distinguishable, and uninviting as seen, but
more welcome to the sight than the wilderness of water stretching as if
to infinity behind them.

CHAPTER NINE.

UNCOMFORTABLE QUARTERS.

The waders had still some distance to go before reaching dry land; but,
after splashing for about twenty minutes longer, they at length stood
upon the shore. As the tide was still flow