nd; but I am short of
men for the King's ship, and that's more consequence than what he's
doing of. So you just start back at daybreak in the boat with my
compliments to Dr Robson, saying I'm very sorry, but he must please
hand over six of the best lads he's got.'"

"Oh, nonsense, Joe! The captain would be too much of a gentleman."

"Being a gentleman, sir, is being a gentleman, but duty's duty, and
officers and sailors have to give up everything to that. Last night,
whether we was on the watch, or turned in to our hot bunks, every man
Jack of us felt that the Bun was right, and a bit envious of him,
because, poor chap, he would have been safe. They wouldn't have took
him; but we all of us fully expected to see that boat coming back for us
this morning. But not only aren't there no boat, but the sloop's
slipped away in the night and gone."

"Where's she gone, then?"

"Well, that's what we don't know, sir, and we don't care."

"But are you sure, Joe? She may be lying off yonder in the mist."

"Oh no, she aren't, sir. Two on us have been up right aloft till we
could lay our hands on the main truck; and when you are up there you are
looking right over the fog. It's wonderful how close it lies to the
water. It's all right, sir, and I believe we are safe. Aren't you
glad?"

"Of course I am, Joe."

"I know you are, sir. But just you think what we must be, just about
five hundred times as glad as you are, and we are all ready for anything
you like. What's it to be to-day?"

"Well, I don't think we shall do much. Uncle will consider it too hot."

"Hot, sir? Not it! Just right. We shan't mind. Fishing, netting,
rowing. You tell him not to think about us. It will just warm us up,
for most on us had the shivers all night."

The low mist began to lift soon after Rodd had had his bath, for the
level rays of the sun began to pierce the grey haze as the great orange
orb slowly rolled up from the depths of ocean, investing it with the
loveliest of pearly tints and iridescent hues, while not a speck of sail
or the clearly marked lines of topmasts could be seen upon the horizon
line.

"Well," said the doctor, at breakfast, as Rodd told him what the men had
said, "the heat will be very great, but I shouldn't spare myself. If I
gave up my researches to-day it would be for the sake of the men."

"You needn't consider them that way, sir," said Captain Chubb. "They
would rather you didn't. But couldn't yo