Part 38 (2/2)
”What did he say?”
”Said it would keep off the chill.”
”Yes, and what then?” said the lads, in a breath.
”I telled him, gentlemen, that the first luff had sent Mr Snelling the purser to me with a dose, and he just grunted at me and went up again.
Oh, I'm all right enough. What about you, Mr Roberts, sir?”
”Thanks to you, Tom, I'm just as you say you are. But what about that fish?”
”Oh, it's in the pot by now. The cook says it's the biggest albicore he ever see in his life, and for sartain, gentlemen, I never see one much more than half as big. There's bigger ones, of course, somewheres, but I never see one speared afore as would touch him. But I say, Mr Roberts, sir,” continued the man, ”you do feel all right again, don't you?”
”Oh yes, quite right, Tom; only a little bit achey about the back of the neck.”
”Course you do, sir. I felt like that both times when I got pretty nigh drownded. That's 'cause you throws your head so far back, and it strains your muscles, sir. But never mind that, sir. It'll soon go off. I was going to say, sir, if you felt right enough I should punish that there fish pretty hard.”
”I will, Tom,” said the lad merrily; and the man went on deck.
”Ready?” said Murray, as he finished dressing.
”Yes, I'm ready, and at the same time I don't feel so,” was the reply.
”Don't feel coming on poorly, do you?”
”Oh no,” replied Roberts, ”but I don't much care about going on deck again.”
”Why not?”
”There's the skipper, and old Anderson; they're both sure to begin to grumble now.”
”Oh no! I don't think they'll say anything.”
”Well, you'll see,” said Roberts decisively; and the lad proved to be right when the pair went on deck, for no sooner did they appear than the first lieutenant, who was forward with the men, giving some instructions, caught sight of them and began to approach.
”Look at that,” whispered Roberts.
”Yes, and look at that, d.i.c.k,” whispered Murray. For the captain, who was on the quarter-deck, had apparently caught sight of them at the same time, and began to make for them.
There was no retreat, for the lieutenant would have met them. But it so happened that the latter saw his chief approaching and returned at once to the group of sailors, leaving the captain to have the first words.
”You're right, d.i.c.k,” whispered Murray. ”Now for a wigging!”
”Well, young gentlemen,” saluted them the next minute; ”what have you to say for yourselves?”
”Thank you, sir,” said Murray, drawing himself up and saluting, ”we're not a bit the worse for our little adventure.”
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