sun had gone downs looking
coppery and orange where a peculiar haze dimmed the west, one of the
sailors who had gathered round where old Bostock was seated hazarded a
few words to his senior.

"Looks a strange deal like a storm," he said.

"Ay, it does," said the old sailor; "and as I was saying," he continued,
passing his hand across his eyes, "it do seem strange how these things
come about. Here's me more'n fifty, and about half wore out, and
there's this here young gent just beginning, as you may say, and cut
down like that. You lads mayn't believe it, but he kinder made me take
to him from the first, and I'd a deal rayther it was me cut down than
him."

"Ah, poor lad!" said one of the men, and there was a low murmur.

"Look at that now," continued the old sailor, passing his hand across
his eyes again, and then holding it out and looking at it curiously;
"wet as wet! He aren't nothing to me, so I suppose I must be growing
older and softer than I thought I was. Nothing to me at all but a
passenger, and here am I, mates, crying like a great gal."

"There aren't naught to be 'shamed on, Bob Bostock," said another
middle-aged man. "I know what you feels, mate, for I've got boys o' my
own, and he's somebody's bairn. Got a father and mother waiting for him
out in Brisbun. Ah! there'll be some wet eyes yonder when they come to
know."

"Ay, there will," came in chorus.

"'Taren't that he's such a good-looking lad, nor so big nor strong. I
dunno what it was, but everyone took to him from the first day he come
aboard. Never made himself too common nor free, but there he was, allus
the gen'leman with you--what you may call nice."

"Reg'lar true-born Englishman, I say," said another.

"Nay, just aye like a young Scot," said another.

"Hark at that!" said another, looking round defiantly; "it's of Oirish
descent he is. Isn't his name Carey?"

"What!" cried another, angrily. "Carey--Carew. It's a Welsh name
inteet, and as old as the hills."

"Never mind what he is--English or Scotch or Welsh."

"Or Irish," put in one of those who had spoken.

"Or Irish," said old Bostock; "he's as fine a lad as ever stepped, I
say, and I'd take it kindly if one of you would take my watch to-night,
for I want to hang about ready to do anything the doctor may want in the
way o' lifting or fetching water. It don't seem nat'ral to stand by and
see the stooard's mate doing things for the lad as he'd, ask me to do if
he c