Part 16 (2/2)

Bob's jaw dropped He was as a rule ready enough, but he was so completely taken aback that he was now speechless

”Ah,” said the captain, ”your memory is so short that you cannot recollect But try and bear this in s are not becoentleman”

He passed on, and Bob's face was a study

”There, it's all over,” he said, disht have said he was co, and I didn't know, Bob, really,” said Mark, merrily, ”Oh, I say, you did look a rily ”There, I can't say what I was going to say to you, only that their naht aboard--Soup And this is ain, and he touched the twofaintly as they heard his words, and gazing fro ”Now then, what do you think of the, healthy fellows”

”Yes, and I shall make first-class sea

”There you go again--chaffing Ah, you're ever soto the two blacks--”Now then, you ht in you, because Mr Van here saved one of you, and I saved the other”

The two blacks gazed hard at the speaker, the h Mark, bending forward a little, with his soft opal eyeballs glea and a wonderful intense look in his swart face There was a twitching about the temples, and his lower lip trembled a little, while one hand was raised; but as Bob Howlett finished, he uttered a low sigh, muttered a feords to his co his are,” said Bob ”We very nearly understand each other Here, Soup”

The black started at the word, and looked inquiringly at the speaker

”Don't worry the poor fellows,” said Mark

”Who's going to worry the to serve the Queen, and the sooner you understand the Queen's English the better

I' to suit the action to the word Now then, see here”

Bob glanced sharply round, to see that only the officer of the watch was on deck, and then, going through a kind of panto with an assailant toward the bulwarks, and being pitched overboard, while the blacks looked on in astonish mad, Bob,” cried Mark ”Drop it”

”Sha'n't! Look at 'em! They understand Look here, Soup Now then, Taters, I'oing through all the actions till he pretended to groeak, threw up his hands, made believe to splash, and then let his head droop as he reached Mark's chair

”Now then,” he said, ”pretend to pullto finish the pantomime, which was quite comprehended by the two blacks, when Bob pointed to his mess who saved you”

The man uttered a few softly liquid words, smiled, and with his eyes full of thankfulness he took a step forward, his co his acts, and dropped down on his knees before Mark's chair

”There,” cried Bob, ”what do you say to--Oh, I say, stow that, Taters; not to hilory”

But his explanation was in vain Both the poor fellows had interpreted his words to mean that Mark had saved thens that he was their lord and they his hu,” cried Bob ”That's just my luck

Look here, Taters I should just like to peel you and give you three dozen, you nasty black-looking, ungrateful swab Hi! jump up! Here co”