, sir," said the
captain; "but wait a little, I'm quite a doctor over these troubles, and
I'll give you some good news."

"I'm sure he will be grateful for it," said Sir John, for Jack was
silent.

"Here it is then," said the captain bluffly; "and you may believe it,
for I know. You've had a sharp little spell since we left port; but
it's over now, and, as we say, you're quite well, thank you."

"I quite well?" cried the lad indignantly; "I feel wretchedly bad."

"And think me very unfeeling for talking to you like this," said the
captain, smiling; "but I'm nothing of the kind. Of course you feel
wretchedly ill. Faint and weak, and as if you could never touch food
again. That's why I wanted you to let the steward bring you a cup of
tea. Human nature can't go without food for three or four days without
feeling bad."

"Of course not," said Sir John.

"But now look here, Mr Jack, I talked about good news, and told you
that you were well now. Here's the proof. There's a nice stiff breeze
on, the water's very lively, and the yacht's dancing about so that we
shall have to mind how we handle our breakfast-cups; and look at you!
You are holding on because you haven't learned to give and take with the
springs in your legs, but you are taking it all quite calmly. Why, the
other day as soon as we began to careen over a bit, the doctor had to
take you below. Now do you see the difference?"

"No," said Jack. "You cannot tell how ill I feel."

"My dear lad, I know exactly," said the captain. "Come, pluck up your
courage; we're going to have a glorious day, and the wind will drop
before noon. Take my advice: go below to have a good tubbing, and dress
yourself again, and by breakfast-time you'll be beginning to wonder that
you should have felt so queer; and mind this, sea-sickness isn't a
disease: it's a--well, it's a--Ah, here's the doctor. Morning, Doctor
Instow, you're just in time. What is sea-sickness?"

"A precious nuisance for those who are troubled with it," said the
doctor heartily. "Morning. Morning, Meadows. Why, Jack, lad, this is
grand. You've quite stolen a march on me. I say, you mean you're over
your bit of misery then. My word, what a jolly morning. Hullo! going
below?"

"Yes," said Jack quietly, as he began to move toward the cabin hatch.

"Take my arm, Mr Jack," said the captain kindly.

"No, thank you," said the lad. "I want to get to be able to balance."

Sir John said nothing,