I have to do, but more than you get. Yes, sir, when you know
better you will learn to see that the doctor's life is a very arduous
one."

"But you get lots of time, sir, for natural history and fishing and
shooting."

"Not `lots of time,' sir, as you term it, but some time certainly; and
what is that but work in the cause of science? And look here, Mr
Roberts, whenever I do get an opportunity for going ashore shooting or
botanising, or have a boat out for fishing or dredging, do I not
invariably enlist the services of you or Mr Murray?"

"Hear, hear!" cried the latter, in the most parliamentary way.

"Thank you, Mr Murray," said the doctor. "I shall not forget this."

"Don't you believe him, doctor," cried Roberts. "He doesn't mean it.
He's only currying favour."

"Nothing of the kind, sir," said the doctor sharply. "I flatter myself
that I understand Mr Murray better than you do, sir. I understand his
temperament quite as well as I do yours, sir, which is atrabilious."

"Eh?" exclaimed Roberts. "What's that, sir?"

"Black bilious, sir, if you really don't know. I have studied your
temperament, sir, and let me tell you that you would be doing very
wisely if you came to me this evening for a little treatment."

"But I've only just got out of your hands, sir," cried the midshipman,
in a voice full of protest.

"That was for the superficial trouble, sir, due to the scorching and
singeing. Now it is plain to me that what you went through in that
attack upon the blacks' town has stirred up the secretions of your
liver."

"Oh, doctor, that it hasn't!" cried the lad. "And I'm sure that I want
no physicking."

"I think I know best, sir. If you were in robust health there would be
none of that display of irritability of temper that you evince. You as
his messmate must have noticed this irritability, Mr Murray?"

"Constantly, sir," said that individual solemnly. "Oh you!" growled
Roberts fiercely. "Just you wait!"

"There!" cried the doctor triumphantly. "You are proving the truth of
my diagnosis, Mr Roberts. Come to me before night, and I will give you
what you require. There, you have given me ample reason for strongly
resenting your language, Mr Roberts, but now I fully realise the cause
I shall pass it over. You require my services, sir, and that is
enough."

"I don't require them, sir," cried the lad, boiling over with passion
now. "I was hurt a good deal over the expedition, but now tha