the sack, and put me to lie at the foot of the triangle, telling me I
was as right as ninepence, I began to think of something I had read in a
storybook, and half choking with sobs I said:

"Martin!"

"What now, shipmate?"

"It's all my fault . . . and I'm just as frightened as Jimmy
Christopher's sister and Nessy MacLeod and Betsy Beauty . . . and I'm
not a stunner . . . and you'll have to give me up . . . and leave me
here and save yourself and . . ."

But Martin stopped me with a shout and a crack of laughter.

"Not _me_! Not much! We never leaves a pal when we're out asploring.
Long as we lives we never does it. Not never!"

That finished me. I blubbered like a baby, and William Rufus, who was
sitting by my side, lifted his nose and joined in my howling.

What happened next I never rightly knew. I was only aware, though my
back was to him, that Martin, impatient of his string, had leapt up to
the bell and was swinging his little body from the tongue to make a
louder clamour. One loud clang I heard, and then came a crash and a
crack, and then silence.

"What is it?" I cried, but at first there was no answer.

"Have you hurt yourself?"