head, nearly strangling him as he drew him out of the water. Together
they lay motionless upon the deck, Harry and Nep, when the captain
coming along would have stumbled over them, had he not caught at a
halliard near by.

"What in the name of things unheard of, is all this?" exclaimed he,
with an oath; "this indeed is a curious beginning for the little
land-lubber! I've the greatest mind to set him ashore, to come to his
senses at his leisure, and if I'm not greatly mistaken, he's but a young
runaway at best; but we might as well keep him now, he'll do for testing
the strength of our cats, and as for that other critter, Mr. Sampson,
you may hand him over to the steward, and tell him I shall want a nice
over-all when we get out where the ice makes an inch a minute."

Mr. Sampson, who had shipped as boat-steerer, the same that had rescued
old Nep from drowning, lifted Harry in his arms, and carrying him below,
laid him in his own hammock, where he also brought the dog, who was
apparently lifeless, and laid him by his side. It was a long time before
Harry was restored to consciousness, and when he had gained strength
sufficient to raise himself upon one arm, he looked around in the
darkness, perfectly bewildered; but as the remembrance of his situation
slowly came to him, he called aloud, in agony of spirit, "Nep! poor
drowned Neptune!" tossing upon his hammock, his arm came in contact
with the creature's shaggy coat. Could it be Nep? rescued from the
inhuman treatment of the captain? but he did not move! was he alive?
Harry sprang from his bed, and making his way in the darkness he knew
not whither, finally found himself in the captain's state-room, which
was unoccupied, and seizing a candle, reached his hammock just as Mr.
Sampson returned.