Dragging himself over he seized No. 8’s legs, and none too soon, for the boy’s strength was exhausted, and at the very instant Sam grasped him he was forced to let go his hold. A moment later the two were lying along the side of the hatch panting for breath, but in no further danger of a fall, and some time elapsed before the silence was broken. Then Sam said, groping about in the darkness for Benny’s hands, and holding them firmly as he spoke: “It may be, lad, that I made all that trouble for nothing. It is possible the cargo was within a few inches of my feet as I hung on the rope; but that I couldn’t know, and it was the fear of shattering a bone which caused me to hold on and yell for help. A surfman with a broken leg might lose a whole season’s work, seein’ ’s the damage wouldn’t have been done in line of duty.” “It’s lucky I heard you. If all hands hadn’t left the steamer, perhaps I shouldn’t have tried to find out where you had gone.” “Do you know, lad, that you did a brave thing in takin’ the chances of my pullin’ you into the hold with me?” “I do hope you won’t make such talk, Mr. Hardy,” Benny cried pleadingly. “I ain’t brave, for I was terribly frightened when that queer noise came out of the hold.” “I noticed that you kept on trying to find out what it was.” “Yes, sir, because I’d been ashamed to have it said I was scared at a noise.” “Well, hark you, Benny, I won’t say anything more about your being a little hero, although I may think so just the same, and in return you shall keep quiet about this bit of trouble.” “Don’t you want any one to know of it, sir?” “Indeed, I don’t, No. 8. It wouldn’t sound very well if you should tell that an old hand like Sam Hardy let himself into the hold of a wreck by a rope which he couldn’t come back on. The boys never’d stop making fun of me, an’ more especially if it turns out that I was hangin’ all that time within two or three feet of the cargo. Now, is it a bargain that both of us are to keep this ’ere business a profound secret?” “I’ll never tell, sir, though I can’t see that you have anything to be ashamed of, for nobody would want to take such chances as might have come. But how are we going to get out? While the steamer is heeled over so badly I can’t climb up the stanchion.” “We’ll hold on a spell, till you’re rested, and then I can give you a lift up on my shoulder.” “I’m ready to try now, sir. I wasn’t very tired--only for a minute or two.” “You’re a lad after my own heart, Benjamin, an’ so long as I have a dollar or a shelter, half of it belongs to you! Now then, get up on my shoulder, an’ once we’re on deck it’s the same as if this foolish thing never happened, except when we two are alone.” Benny scrambled up as Sam had directed, and then the surfman, cautioning him to keep his knees stiff, lifted the lad straight above his head until he could seize the hatch-combing.