Part 16 (1/2)
”Come in,” cried Bob; and To behind, as he stood grinning, but looking rather white and pulled down
”Ah, To to help me?”
”Yes, sir! Mr Howlett said I was to co yer down and dressing of yer up Same to you, sir, only you don't look quite as I should like to see yer”
Half an hour later Mark was on deck in a long cane chair, the awning above his head, the ht and left the blue dancing water, rippled by a light breeze which h the little waves
”And how beautiful it all looks!” sighed the lad ”I never thought the shi+p so delightful, nor the sea so bright before”
Just then, Dance the coxswain ca them the same moment
”Here you are, then, skipper,” he said ”What do you think of Joe Dance? Looks yellow about the gills, don't he? Here co for you, Vandean?”
”Morning, Mr Vandean,” said the captain ”Coet well”
”I almost think I a so idle”
”Humph!” said Mr Staples, from behind him, ”first midshi+pman I ever kneith so fine a conscience But come, he does look better, sir”
”Oh yes Only wants time,” said the captain ”You'll be ready to help take the next slaver, Vandean--eh?”--this to the lieutenant; ”well, say the next but one By the way, Mr Vandean, you can send your attendant to the cabin for any books you like to read Look here, Staples”
They went aft together talking, and then descended to the cabin, when Bob Howlett hurried up
”Why, you're holding quite a levee, old chap I want to introduce two gentle theht, I will It can be to move your chair”
Before Mark could say a word, the lad was off, and a minute later he returned with a couple of black sailors in white duck shi+rt and trousers--big built, fierce-looking fellohose black faces, hands, and feet showed strangely in contact with their snowy clothes
They followed Bob Howlett on deck and to the chair occupied by Mark, stopping at a sign given by the midshi+pman who led them up
”Here we are,” he said ”You two don't understand a word I say, and I can't make out a word of yours, so we're free and equal there Now, look here, this is Captain Vandean, and I'm Captain Howlett That is, we shall be soazed at hi hard to understand him
”This, I say, is Captain Vandean, and I'm Captain Howlett, and we came in the boat and saved your lives when you were pitched overboard out of the slaver”
”Are these the two ht, my lord These are they I've had 'em holy-stoned and fresh painted They seemed to want to stay, and the skipper said as he was short-handed he'd give 'em a trial Of course, I took their parts; and I said to Maitland--”
”Yes, what did you say to Maitland, Mr Howlett?” said the captain, who had returned unobserved