t the mate lay on the deck inert
in a puddle of water. Mrs. Gibbs frantically slapped his hands; and Miss
Harris, bending over him, rendered first aid by kissing him wildly.

Captain Gibbs pushed her away. "He won't come round while you're
a-kissing of him," he cried, roughly.

To his indignant surprise the drowned man opened one eye and winked
acquiescence. The skipper dropped his arms by his side and stared at him
stupidly.

"I saw his eyelid twitch," cried Mrs. Gibbs, joyfully.

"He's all right," said her indignant husband; "'e ain't born to be
drowned, 'e ain't. I've spoilt a good suit of clothes for nothing."

To his wife's amazement, he actually walked away from the insensible man,
and with a boathook reached for his hat, which was floating by. Mrs.
Gibbs, still gazing in blank astonishment, caught a seraphic smile on the
face of her brother as Miss Harris continued her ministrations, and in a
pardonable fit of temper the overwrought woman gave him a box on the ear,
which brought him round at once.

"Where am I?" he inquired, artlessly.

Mrs. Gibbs told him. She also told him her opinion of him, and without
plagiarizing her husband's words, came to the same conclusion as to his
ultimate fate.

"You come along home with me," she said, turning in a friendly fashion to
the bewildered girl. "They deserve what they've got--both of 'em. I
only hope that they'll both get such awful colds that they won't find
their voices for a twelvemonth."

She took the girl by the arm and helped her ashore. They turned their
heads once in the direction of the barge, and saw the justly incensed
skipper keeping the mate's explanations and apologies at bay with a boat-
hook. Then they went in to breakfast.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Lady of the Barge, by W.W. Jacobs

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