This even if the shelf had not already been occupied; and Ram lay there, evidently stunned, if not killed.
What did Mr Brough and old Gurr always say?
"_Be cool in danger_--_never lose your nerve_!" "Yes, that was it!" he said, as he recalled lessons that he had received again and again.

But what could he do?
Even as he gazed down, he momentarily expected to see Ram glide slowly off, and, with brow covered with great drops of perspiration and his hands wet and cold, the midshipman rose panting to his feet, looked round, and sent up shout after shout for help.
Again his voice seemed utterly lost in the air, and a peculiar, querulous cry from the gull, which came slowly sailing round, was all the response he got.
"Ram!" he cried at last.

"Ram! Don't play tricks, lad.

Speak to me.
I want to help you.

Tell me what to do--to get help.