Ah, then was commotion. Dick it was, who had been experimenting on the
waves on his own account. They ran hither and thither, shouting for the
man, calling for the boat; but the man did not answer, and the boat was
not on service to-day. While they were running like madmen, all in
confusion, Mr. Loftus stood in helpless despair—a very incapable man,
he, in any sudden emergency.
But see! While they have been crying and calling, another has been
doing. Some one who threw off his superfluous clothing, plunged into
the waves, and is nearing the drowning boy. He gains—he gains upon him!
He has him in his hands now, and is turning to battle back to shore
again; and a silent prayer is going up from many a heart to heaven.
There ensues a pause of agonized suspense; and then a low murmur of
thankfulness, gradually rising into a shout of admiration, breaks out
from the spectators. Sir Simon Orville fairly dances in his glee, while
the tears run down his cheeks.
"Who is it that has saved him?" asked Mr. Loftus, feeling as if the one
half of his substance, the whole gratitude of his remaining years,
might well be given in recompense. The beaming generous grey eyes of
the rescuer met his in answer, and he knew them for George Paradyne's.
Mr. Dick was conveyed in rather an ignominious fashion to the yellow
Maison de Sauvetage, followed by a long tail, who were shut out
unceremoniously. Brown major's brother, announcing himself in obscure
French as a "doctoor," was allowed to enter. The attendants placed Dick
in one of the beds that the room contained, and a French surgeon,
springing it was hard to say whence, appeared upon the scene. But no
vigorous means of resuscitation were resorted to, simply because the
patient, who was not very far gone, revived without them. George
Paradyne, meanwhile, was quietly dressing himself, throwing off thanks
and homage as he best could. Sir Simon Orville, however, would not be
thrown off. He took possession of him and carried him back in triumph
to the Hotel du Nord to dinner.
George was shown to a chamber to brush his still wet hair, when Mr.
Loftus came in, and held out his hand.
"How can I show my gratitude to you for what you have done?"
"Oh, sir, thank you; but it does not deserve any particular gratitude,"
was the boy's laughing answer, as he resigned perforce his right hand,
while his left held the hair-brush. "I am so very glad I happened to be
there."
"Where did you learn to swim like that?"
"In the West Indies, when I was a little fellow. Papa's regiment was
quartered there. We had an old black servant, who taught me. He used to
carry me to the water, and let me sport in it like an alligator. Few
can swim as I do."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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