Part 39 (2/2)

”Thank you, sir,” said Murray, with a sigh of relief.

The lieutenant turned upon him sharply.

”Yes,” he said, ”I suppose you do mean that. Well, Mr Roberts, I hope you feel none the worse?”

”No, sir; yes, sir, I--no sir, not at all the worse.”

”I am glad of it. But you had a very narrow escape. Your life was saved by Murray's bravery. A very gallant action, my lad--manly and brave; but no more of such gallant actions, if you please. I have quite enough responsibilities in connection with my duties on this s.h.i.+p without being worried with a pack of boys risking their lives for the sake of catching a fish or two, so let me have no more of it. Do you hear? There, you need not speak.”

The lieutenant turned short round and marched away frowning, leaving the lads looking at one another for a few minutes, before Murray whispered, ”Come along forward,” with the result that they made for a favourite spot where, well out of sight of the quarter-deck, they could rest their folded arms upon the rail and gaze down into the transparent water which glided by the sloop's cut-water with hardly a ripple, so soft was the breeze which filled the crowd of canvas that had been set.

”I thought we should get it,” said Roberts, after a few minutes'

silence.

”Oh, never mind, old chap,” said his companion quietly. ”You got off pretty easy.”

”I did? Oh, come; it was you who got off easy. 'A very gallant act,'

didn't he say?”

”Something of the kind.”

”Yes; 'a very gallant act.' You always get the praise, Frank,” said Roberts gloomily. ”It has always been so ever since we joined. One is expected to devote himself in every way possible to learning one's profession, and for reward one gets bullied and blamed for pretty well everything. n.o.body ever told me that I had performed a very gallant act.”

”Well, look here, what do you say to me tumbling overboard so that you can come over after me and save my life?”

”Bother! Look here, Frank, if you can't talk sense you'd better hold your tongue.”

”If I did you'd only get more rusty. I say, d.i.c.k, I once read about a fellow being saved from drowning.”

”Me, of course,” interrupted Roberts, in an angry tone. ”What are you up to now--fis.h.i.+ng for praise of your 'gallant act'?”

”Not likely,” was the reply, good-humouredly. ”I was going to tell you about some one who was saved from drowning.”

”Well, you needn't. I know all about it now, thank you, and I don't want to hear.”

”Never mind, old chap; I want to tell you, and it's very interesting and quite true.”

Roberts grunted and gave himself a hitch so as to turn half away from his companion and stand staring away to sea.

”It said that when the poor fellow was on the deck again--you see, he had fallen from the yard and they had to lower down a boat so as to get him aboard, and when they did he seemed to be quite dead--same as you did.”

”Tchah! Nothing of the kind. I was only a bit insensible.”

”Well, you were quite bad enough,” said Murray, ”and the doctor had to bring you round same as this chap; and when he was able to sit up and talk it was quite curious--”

”I don't see anything curious about a half-drowned chap coming to and being able to talk.”

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