“No, sir, how could you?” replied Smallbones, who was all prepared for this explanation, “when the tide swept me past the saluting battery in a moment.”

“Past the saluting battery?” exclaimed Vanslyperken, “why, how were you saved?”

“Because, thanks to somebody, I be too light to sink.  I went out to the Nab buoy, and a mile ayond it.”

“The Nab buoy!” exclaimed Vanslyperken.

“Yes, and ayond it, afore the tide turned, and then I were swept back again, and came into harbour again, just half-an-hour afore you come aboard.”

Mr Vanslyperken looked aghast; the lad must have had a charmed life.  Nine miles at least out to sea, and nine miles back again.

“It’s as true as I stand here, sir,” continued Smallbones; “I never were so cold in all my life, a-floating about like a bit of duck-weed with the tide, this way and that way.”

“As true as you stand here!” repeated Vanslyperken; “but do you stand here?” and he made a desperate grasp at the lad’s arm to ascertain whether he held substance or shadow.

“Can I do anything more, sir?” continued Smallbones; “for I should like to turn in—­I’m as cold as ice, even now.”

“You may go,” replied Vanslyperken, whose mind was again becoming confused at what had passed.  For some time, the lieutenant sat in his chair, trying to recollect and reason; but it was in vain—­the shocks of the day had been too great.  He threw himself, dressed as he was, upon his bed—­never perceived the absence of his favourite—­the candle was allowed to burn itself to the socket, and Vanslyperken fell off into a trance-like sleep.

Chapter XX

In which Mr Vanslyperken proves false to the Widow Vandersloosh, and many strange things take place.

Mr. Vanslyperken was awakened, the next morning, by the yelping of his dog, who, having been shut out of the cabin, had ventured up the ladder in the morning when the men were washing the deck, and had a bucket shied at him by Jemmy Ducks, with such excellent precision, that it knocked him over, and nearly broke his hind leg, which he now carried high up in the air as he howled upon the other three at the cabin door.  Mr Vanslyperken rose, and tried to recollect what had passed; but it was more than a minute before he could recall the circumstances of the day before.  He then tried to call to mind how he had gone to bed, and by what means Snarleyyow was left outside, but he could make nothing of it.  He opened the cabin door, and let in the dog, whose lame leg instantly excited his indignation, and he then rang his bell for Smallbones, who soon made his appearance.

“How came the dog out of the cabin, sir?”

“I’m sure I don’t know, sir; I never put him out.”

“Who is it that has hurt him?”

“I’m sure I don’t know, sir; I never touched him.”

Vanslyperken was about to vent his anger, when Smallbones said, “If you please, I don’t know what’s a-going on.  Why here, sir, the men washing the decks have found your carving-knife abaft, by the traffrail.  Somebody must have taken it there, that’s sartain.”