were whistling, but no sound came, and he stared hard
at the bulkhead facing him.

But try how he would he could not keep his eyes fixed there--they would
follow my movements; and twice over I caught Smith peeping round the
side of the book with which he was screening his face.

I began to whistle as I rapidly made my preparations, and at last Smith
could bear it no longer.

"What's the idiot dressing himself up for?" he cried contemptuously.

That started Barkins, and he burst out with--

"What's up, Gnat? Shore leave?"

"Eh! Didn't you know?" I said coolly. "Shooting."

"What!" they exclaimed in a breath, and Smith's eyes were more wide open
than I had ever seen them.

"Shooting," I said coolly. "Brooke and I are going after ducks."

"Gammon!" cried Barkins. "Why, you have no gun."

"No," I said. "Reardon is going to lend me his double breech-loader,
central fire, number twelve."

Barkins gave his leg a sharp slap.

"We're going up the river; plenty of sport up there among the marshes."

"Going to walk?" said Barkins.

"Oh no; we're to have a crew and one of the cutters."

"Don't you believe him, Barkins, it's all gammon. The little humbug
can't deceive me."

"All right, call it gammon," I said, stooping to tighten my boot-laces.
"Roast duck for dinner, Tanner, to-morrow."

Barkins rushed on deck, leaving me with Smith, and the next minute he
was back again.

"It's all right, Smithy," he cried; "and they're shoving in a basket of
prog for the beggars."

"What!" yelled Smith. "Do you mean to say that Brooke and this--this--
thing are going off wasting Her Majesty's time shooting?"

"Yes; I saw Brooke, and he said it was so."

"Then I shall resign. Hang me if I'll stop in a service where such
beastly favouritism is shown. Profession for gentlemen's sons, is it?
I call it a mockery!"

"Oh, don't be so snaggy, Smithums," I said banteringly; "wait till his
poor old wing's all right again, and he shall go a shooting too."

That was too much. He made a rush at me, but Barkins flung an arm round
his waist, and as they struggled together I dodged to the other side of
the table and escaped from the cabin, but popped my head in again.

"Don't hit him, Tanner," I cried; "he ain't got no friends. Good-bye,
old chap, I wish you were coming too."

Our eyes met, and I suppose my tone and the look I gave him seemed
sincere, for, as he held Smith, his arms tightly round him from behind,
and