"Yes--hic--you're drunk--as a--fool--and I
want--to--hic--laugh--he--he--he!"

Will did really laugh now. It seemed so funny there at that hour in that
place.

"But it's no laughing matter, friend, I'll tell you. O whew! Here's the
water half a foot deep all around us! Come now, lift up your feet and come
with me. Make an effort now."

The man rallied his strength so effectively to make this effort that he
lost his balance, and stumbling against Will, pitched him over.

"Look--look out--friend!" roared Will, as he floundered in mud and water.
"Can't you do better than that?"

"Besht--hic--I can do for you. Might try it again--hic."

"O, thanks--thanks. Be contented with that trial. There is my boot, stuck
fast in the mud, and let her go. Come, friend, make an effort to get
along. Stick close to the wall and work your way on, and lean on me.
There, you did splendidly then. Try again! There, there! Easy now. O
scissors, there goes my other boot! The next thing will be that I shall
get my legs in for good, and by to-morrow morning early the water will be
over us all. Come, friend, you don't want to get drowned. Pull away!
Steady there! Move on! We are making progress, you see. Again, there! On
she goes! Hem--now, once more! All together! There we are!"

There came a series of such trials, and finally Will shouted, "Must be