Part 6 (1/2)

”Oh, I did not mean that,” said the lady, flus.h.i.+ng.

”And what is more, I feel sure that our captain would not allow our little powder monkey--”

”Powder monkey!” cried the lady, aghast.

”Only a sailor's playful term, madam,” said the lieutenant. ”I say our captain would not give up our brave little fellow to go back to a life of ill-treatment.”

”He would come back to no ill-treatment,” cried the lady, with the tears br.i.m.m.i.n.g in her eyes. ”I love my dead brother's son. He would be with me, as his father expressly desired in his will. My other brother would have nothing whatever to do with him. Pray, pray let me see the little fellow, and I can prove to you that he would be happy.”

”Oh, he is no prisoner, madam,” said the lieutenant. ”Will you come with me? You will find him doing duty in what we term the sick bay--the infirmary--where are several of our wounded men.”

The lady uttered a faint sob, and looking more and more troubled, suffered herself to be led to where poor Jack Jeens, looking very white and thin, lay back close to an open port-hole, listening to something Phil was reading from a book.

Unseen at first, the visitor stopped short, gazing wonderingly at her little nephew neatly rigged up in nautical style, bending over the book he held, and evidently enjoying his task.

”Phil!” whispered the lady; but the boy did not look up, only went on reading.

But Jack Jeens heard, and he started where he lay, guessed the object of the visit, and stretched out a hand to seize the boy.

”I'm not tired, Jack,” cried Phil. ”I can go on reading for--O, Auntie!” he shouted joyously, and dropping the book as he sprang up, he bounded into the lady's arms, to begin kissing her pa.s.sionately again and again.

”Phil--my darling!” she sobbed. ”Have I found you again?”

”Yes, Auntie dear,” cried the little fellow, ”but--” He struggled from her embrace and darted behind Jack Jeens, gazing wildly around.

”Is Uncle there?” he whispered, hoa.r.s.ely.

”No, my boy; he has gone, and you will not see him again.”

”Ah,” cried Phil; ”and have you come to fetch me home?”