Part 19 (1/2)
”He has eaten enough now,” said Tom; ”but, I say, Mark,” he whispered, ”you keep an eye on him whenever you can, so that none of the fellows play hi, out of devilry”
”Aye, aye,” answered Mark ”They shan't hurt the poor young chap if I can help it, though I've enough to do to keep clear of them myself”
”Well, we shall be three now, and shall be better able to stand up against the the food a drowsiness crept over me, and I fell into a sound sleep When I awoke I was in the dark, and felt verytime At first I fancied that I was down in the hold, but the loud snoring and groaning of thebunks made me remember what had happened
I felt about, and was soon convinced that I was in Tom Trivett's bunk, in a clean shi+rt and trousers, and a blanket over me I heard the watch below turn out, the others shortly afterwards came in, but no one took any notice of me
When the latter were fast asleep I heard some one come into the berth and stop near my bunk
”Who's that?” I asked
”Glad to see you can speak again, my lad,” said the person whom by his voice I knew to be Tom Trivett ”Do you feel better?”
”Yes, thank you,” I answered ”You've saved rateful to you”
”Don't talk o' that, lad,” he said, ”it's not ood I can do in the world, but I couldn't bear to see you allowed to die fro for you You're ah a lot as ever sailed on the salt ocean, and that's saying a good deal I want to give you a piece of advice; I reat hurry to get well, for though the fellows, bad as they are, won't have the cruelty to ill-treat you while you're sick, as soon as you come round they'll be down upon you, and you'll find that they'll give you more kicks than ha'pence
However, you must not mind them Don't attempt to retaliate, for they're too row sulky as poor Mark did, and has ever since well-nigh had his life knocked out of hio on deck as it's ain thanked Toetas soon as the cook turns out; but he's asleep in his bunk, and at this hour it would be a difficult job to find any I'll tell Mark, however, to ask hiain”
Saying this, Tom left the berth, and I onceout
The light strea In consequence of the advice I received from Tom, I kept quiet and pretended to be asleep Soon afterwards I saw Mark Riddle standing by ry, boy,” he said; ”so Ifor you from the pantry I hope it won't be discovered, or the third htof water
”I'll bring you a cup of hot coffee,” he said, handing , ”What, don't you know me, Mark?”
He looked atme
”No, I don't think I ever saw you before,” he answered; ”but how do you happen to know ed,” I said ”I'm dick Cheveley”
”dick Cheveley!” he cried out, looking at me still harder; ”dick Cheveley on board this shi+p! And yet it must be; and are you really dick Cheveley?”
”I don't believe I'h I have sometimes fancied I must be”
”Yes, yes, I see you're Master Cheveley,” cried Mark, ”though I can't say I feel lad forit
”Oh, Master Cheveley, what did bring you aboard?”
I briefly told hiht me
”It's a bad business for you, Master dick,” he said; ”but the only thing now to be done is to make the best of it They're a precious bad lot, and the captain and officers are no better I've made up my mind to run as soon as I can, and I'd advise you to do the same”
”That I certainly hen I have somewhere to run to, but at present it seems we should have to run overboard,” I answered