Part 48 (1/2)

Now, Mr Roylance; in with you.”

”Ay, ay, sir,” came in peculiar tones; and Syd felt disgusted that he should not have been able to come down into the boat in the same way, instead of sneaking in like a rat.

”Seems to be a good deal of swell on amongst these little rocks,” said the first lieutenant. ”You'll land at the other place.”

”Oh, yes,” said the second lieutenant; and from where he lay Syd could just get a glimpse of him as he stood up in the stern-sheets.

”He must have seen me,” he thought; and looking upwards, there right over the side, and quite plainly to be seen, were the head and shoulders of the first lieutenant gazing down into the boat.

Perfectly certain now that he should be shouted at for trying to get off in the boat, Sydney lay perfectly still, waiting for the unpleasant order; but oddly enough thinking at the same time that ignominious as it would be to crawl up the ladder and climb on board, he should be spared one pain--Terry would not be there to sneer at him.

”Might have been worse,” he thought, as he gathered himself together, ready to spring out and get the trouble over.

But the order did not come, and he only heard a growling sound as the boatswain said something to one of the men.

”They're waiting for something,” thought Syd, as a low talking arose on deck; and he heard a voice reply which he knew was his father's, and the blood flushed to his cheeks.

”Give way, my lads!” came at last, and Syd exultantly exclaimed to himself, as the tension was taken off--

”He didn't see me,” and he heard the oars splash, and felt that the boat was gliding through the water.

But Sydney was not quite right, for as soon as the boat had put off, the first lieutenant went aft to where the captain was standing, examining the rock.

”Well, Mr Bracy,” he said, as he closed the gla.s.s with a snap.

”I thought I'd tell you, sir, that Mr Belton came and asked leave to go in the last boat.”

”Did you give him permission?”

”No, sir.”

”That's right.”

”But--”

”Eh?” said Captain Belton, raising his eyebrows; ”he has taken French leave and gone?”

”Yes; he was stowed away there amids.h.i.+ps.”

”And you forbade his going?” said the captain, frowning.

”Oh, no, I did not forbid him, sir.”

”Well, well, Mr Bracy; we were boys once,” said the captain, smiling.

”Yes, sir, I'm afraid I did the same.”

”And I more than twice, Bracy. One must be a little blind sometimes with a boy of spirit. Bit of change for him. How is he getting on?”

”Capitally. Full of promise.”