Part 17 (1/2)

He seized one with each hand by the sleeves of their duck frocks, and dragged them forward; but in an instant, they had snatched the softly in their own tongue, and with a good deal of gesticulation, till Mark ended Bob's perplexity by pointing to the lower deck, when they walked obediently after the ht away to the forecastle hatch, and went below

Five ain by his messmate's side

”That's just my luck,” he said, sourly ”I beat the bush and so; we shall have the whole quarter-deck on the sick list directly”

But all the same Bob ran across to offer the second lieutenant his arerly stretched out his hand to grasp that of the young brother officer who had shared the peril of what had so nearly been their last adventure

Mark heaved a sigh, but it was one full of satisfaction as they two sat quietly talking together, with first one and then another to coratulation; and when sailors and marines passed and saluted with a friendly s the popularity of the two convalescents

Meanwhile the _Nautilus_ glided along due south, and there was a good deal of speculation as to her next destination, till Mr Staples came up, and in the conversation which ensued, announced that they were to search for a river about sixtythe coast, one which was not marked down in any chart, but was supposed to exist, and to be a stronghold of those engaged in the slave trade

It was getting toward evening, and the two invalids had pleaded for the doctor's perer on deck, for the soft air was delicious, and gave theth at every breath They were very silent as they sat watching with keen delight the varied business of the shi+p, doubly interesting to thean to drop, and the course of the vessel to growfor the iven to a party of therains forward and try to harpoon soolden water; but instead of going and perching hi about the chair of his brother , Howlett?” said Mr Russell

”Oh, I don't know,” he said ”It'll be quite dark directly, and I ishi+ng, sir, for so to happen to make me an invalid”

”Because you have such an affection for Doctor Whitney's doses?” said Mark, laughing

”No, so you needn't ht so, because et all kinds of attentions, and those who are quite well get bullied by first lieutenants, and are spoken to by captains as if they weren't worth their salt, as Mr Staples calls it”

”I shall have to report Mr Robert Howlett's insubordinate language,”

said Mark's fellow-invalid, when all at once there ca somewhere forward Then more cries, and confusion, and directly after there was a desperate scuffle going on by the forecastle hatch

”What's that?” cried the first lieutenant; and in a few ed forward, pushed by four of the men, and held by main force while the captain, who had hurried on deck, called for an explanation

This was given by a dozen voices at once, but in obedience to a co of the blacks could be plainly heard

”Now then,” said the captain, ”one man speak You, Dance, step forward

What does thispardon, sir,” said the coxswain of the first cutter; ”so tricks with the two black hands”

”_Who_ did?” said the captain, sternly

”Beg pardon, sir, didn't see, sir, but it ot a knife and the other a marlin-spike; and if they hadn't been held there'd ha' been ht forhere the fishi+ng had been going on, and following a loud splashi+ng fro of cries to send the blood coursing back even froest man's cheek

”Boat, boat--Help--help!”

In tropic waters just as the sun had sunk below the horizon, and the rapid darkness was co on

CHAPTER TWELVE