the sooner."

Owen expostulated; he had been on his legs for several days, and why
should he now lie by? he asked.

"For the very reason that you have done more than you have strength
for," answered the doctor.

"But the duty of the ship must be attended to, and I am anxious to see
my captain," urged Owen.

"And your captain's daughter, eh, my young friend--is it not so?" said
Dr Roach. "Well, I will let her know your wishes; I have been called
in to attend on Captain Tracy, who requires some doctoring, though not
as much as you do--and as to the ship, there are others whose duty it is
to look after her; it was yours to bring her safely into port, and you
did that in a very gallant way, I hear. Now, Mrs Massey, I lay my
commands on your son to remain quietly in bed till I tell him to get up;
if he disobeys me, we shall be having a stiff arm or something worse, so
he is warned. I will come and see him regularly, and you'll give him
the medicines as I direct;" and Dr Roach, kindly shaking the widow's
hand, walked away towards the town, with his gold-headed cane pressed to
his lips--a sure sign that he was lost in thought.

Captain Tracy was, as the doctor had said, really ill; he was even worse
than it was at first supposed, and required all Norah's attention.
Though much wishing to see Owen and Mrs Massey, she could not venture
to leave him. Gerald, however, willingly undertook to pay a visit to
the mate, who not being positively prohibited from seeing visitors,
Gerald was admitted. Owen more clearly understood the message which
Norah had sent than Gerald did himself. Though longing to see her, he
acknowledged that it was her duty to remain with her father.

"However, Owen, you need not be in a hurry to get well," said Gerald,
"for the _Ouzel Galley_ won't be fit for sea again for many months; she
suffered so much during her last voyage, and got so knocked about by the
enemy's shot, that she is to undergo a thorough repair. My father, not
wishing me to be idle, talks of sending me to sea in some other craft--
if I have my choice, I would go on board a man-of-war, where I might
have plenty of opportunities of fighting the enemies of our country. I
don't like the idea of sailing in a ship which may be attacked and
captured by any French privateer we might fall in with."

"I am sorry to hear you say that, Gerald, for I had hoped to have you
with me when I next go afloat;" answered Owen. "To my mind, the
me