like
a pair of pincers, and then with the other flung him backward as if he
were an empty bag. The fellow was too much amazed to strike, or close
with him, or even swear, but received the vehement impact without any
stay behind him. So that he staggered back, hat downward, and striking
one heel on a stone, fell over the brink of the shallow cliff to the
sand below.

The lieutenant, who never had thought of this, was terribly scared, and
his wrath turned cold. For although the fall was of no great depth, and
the ground at the bottom so soft, if the poor man had struck it poll
foremost, as he fell, it was likely that his neck was broken. Without
any thought of his crippled heel, Carroway took the jump himself.

As soon as he recovered from the jar, which shook his stiff joints and
stiffer back, he ran to the coast-guardsman and raised him, and found
him very much inclined to swear. This was a good sign, and the officer
was thankful, and raised him in the gravelly sand, and kindly requested
him to have it out, and to thank the Lord as soon as he felt better. But
Cadman, although he very soon came round, abstained from every token of
gratitude. Falling with his mouth wide open in surprise, he had filled
it with gravel of inferior taste, as a tidy sewer pipe ran out just
there, and at every execration he discharged a little.

"What can be done with a fellow so ungrateful?" cried the lieutenant,
standing stiffly up again; "nothing but to let him come back to his
manners. Hark you, John Cadman, between your bad words, if a glass of
hot grog will restore your right wits, you can come up and have it, when
your clothes are brushed."

With these words Carroway strode off to his cottage, without even
deigning to look back, for a minute had been enough to show him that no
very serious harm was done.

The other man did not stir until his officer was out of sight; and then
he arose and rubbed himself, but did not care to go for his rummer of
hot grog.

"I must work this off," the lieutenant said, as soon as he had told
his wife, and received his scolding; "I can not sit down; I must do
something. My mind is becoming too much for me, I fear. Can you expect
me to be laughed at? I shall take a little sail in the boat; the wind
suits, and I have a particular reason. Expect me, my dear, when you see
me."

In half an hour the largest boat, which carried a brass swivel-gun in
her bows, was stretching gracefully across the bay, with