er," answered Tom to his inquiries. "He
didn't know me just now; he's talking about his mother, and fancying
she's nursing him."

This news made our hero feel very sad, and he hurried on to the lower
deck, where the wounded lay in their hammocks, sheltered by a canvas
screen.

He inquired of one of the attendants where Jack Peek was, and soon found
him, the surgeon being by his side dressing his wound.

"I'm much afraid that he will slip through our fingers unless we can
manage to quell the fever. He requires constant watching, and that is
more than he can well obtain, with so many men laid up, and so much to
do," said the doctor as he finished his task. "However, Rayner, if you
can stay by him, I'll be back in a few minutes to see how he's getting
on. In the meantime give him this medicine; if he comes to his senses,
a word or two from you may do him good."

Though Rayner himself could scarcely stand from fatigue, he undertook to
do as the doctor requested. He waited until he saw, by the light of the
lantern hung up from a beam overhead, that Jack had come somewhat to
himself, when he got him to take the draught he held in his hand.

"How do you feel, Jack?" he asked in a low tone; but poor Jack did not
reply. After waiting a little time longer, Rayner again spoke. "We've
beaten off the enemy, you know, and are safe under shelter of the land.
Cheer up now, you'll soon get round."

"Is that you, Bill?" asked Jack, in a faint voice. "I thought mother
was with me, and I was on shore, but I'm glad she's not, for it would
grieve her to see me knocked about as I am."

"You'll do well now, the doctor said so, as you've come to yourself,"
observed Rayner, much cheered at hearing Jack speak. "I'll stay by you
while it is my watch below, and then I'll get Tom to come. Now go to
sleep, if the pain will let you."

"The pain isn't so very great, and I don't mind it since we have licked
the enemy," answered Jack; "but I hope you won't be angry at me calling
you Bill; I quite forgot, Mr Rayner, that you were a midshipman."

"No, I didn't remark that you called me Bill," answered Rayner; "if I
had, I shouldn't have thought about it. I just feel as I did when I was
your messmate. However, I must not let you be talking, so now shut your
eyes and get some sleep; it will do you more good than the doctor's
stuff."

Rayner was very glad when the doctor came back, accompanied by Tom, and
having observed that Jack was