"I never saw any one go into battle so gamely.

Why, the whole glory of the rescue belongs to you." "What bosh! You had to rescue me as well as Wyndham.

But I'm thankful he's safe." "You're awfully sweet about that precious youngster," said Fairbairn.
"I hope he'll be grateful to you, that's all." Riddell said nothing, and shortly afterwards Fairbairn said he must go.
As he was leaving Riddell called him back.
"I say, Fairbairn," said he, in his half-nervous way, "you needn't say anything about Silk, there's a good fellow; it wouldn't do any good." "He deserves a good thrashing," said Fairbairn, wrathfully.
"Never mind; don't say anything about it, please." And Fairbairn promised and went.
It was quite a novel sensation for the captain to find himself figuring in the eyes of Willoughby as a "bulldog." He knew he was about the last person to deserve the proud title, and yet such are the freaks of fortune, the exaggerated stories of the rescue, differing as they did in nearly every other particular, agreed in this, that he had performed prodigies of valour in the engagement, and had, in fact, rescued Wyndham single-handed.
More than one fellow dropped in during the evening to inquire how he was, and to confirm his new reputation.
Pilbury and Cusack were among the first.
"Is it true your leg's broken ?" cried the latter, as he entered the study, in tones of unfeigned concern.
"No, of course not," replied the captain, laughing.

"What made you think so ?" "The fellows said so.

Pil and I were too far behind to back you up, you know, or we would have, wouldn't we, Pil ?" "Rather," replied Pil.
"Why," said the captain, catching sight of the bruised and ragged condition of these young men of war--"why, you've been knocked about a great deal more than I have." "Oh," said Cusack, "that was in the run up from Shellport, you know.