Part 20 (1/2)

In moderate weather they were tolerably co down on the deck they were fearfully hot In a gale of wind, as the seas dashed against the bows or she pitched into them, the noise and ot accustomed

So in wetted the clothes and bedding However, in other respects they were better than the forepeak in a flush-decked shi+p, which is generally close and hot, full of horrible odours, and totally destitute of ventilation, and often wet into the bargain, from unseen leaks which are not of sufficient consequence to trouble the officers, as they do not affect the safety of the shi+p

At length, one day Toht of the Cape de Verde Islands, at which he believed the captain intended to call He was very glad, he said, of this, as he hoped to be able to get ht would doelse

The very naive a great deal just to have one good suck at an orange Great was my disappointment, therefore, when shortly afterwards Mark ca up, and that ere standing away from the islands, but that the captain, he believed, intended to put into Rio de Janeiro

”I et there,” I said ”I hope it won't take us long”

”We have to pass through the horse latitudes, and to cross the line first, and Rio is some way to the south of that, so I'es,” he answered

I was now rapidly getting better, and I began to pine for fresh air and exercise

”You'll be wiser to stay where you are, Master dick,” said Mark ”No one believes that you're a gentleman's son, and if they did I'm very sure it would make very little difference I should, perhaps, benefit by your getting about, as you would have all the dirty work to do which now falls tothat the captain has allowed you to re in the berth, for he knows that you're aboard, though he takes no notice of you Still I'd advise you, as long as you can, to stay where you are”

I had not long the opportunity Two days afterwards the third mate came into the berth with a short, knotted rope in his hand

”Co here,” he exclairub to you, and you've done nothing for it We don't want idlers aboard the 'E there pretty smartly”

I atteot hold of s into theave way and down I sank At the same moment the mate's colt descended on my back I was taken so completely by surprise that I shrieked out with pain I tried to lift etting on ht I'd cure you Do you want another dose of this rope?”

”Oh! No, sir! No, sir! Don't! I'll dress as fast as I can,” I called out

The ain Still the fear of another lash made me exert myself in a way I could not otherwise have done, and I tried very hard to put on my waistcoat and jacket, and to tiedown on a lower bunk

”Now, co!” said the mate; ”the captain wants to speak to you”

I atteain failed htthe deck

It was a severe discipline, but it was effective, for the air and the necessity of th to my limbs, and by the tih I should have fallen had not theto and fro On turning he stopped when he saw ins?” he asked, eyeing me very sternly ”What business had you to come aboard, boy, without leave?”

”Please, sir, I couldn't help it,” I said, and I told hi to look round the shi+p I had fallen into the hold

”A likely story, youngster, which I don't intend to believe You came on board to please yourself, and now you'll learn to please me, and do the work you're set to do”