ibs would feel
if they were broken."

"Bah! You don't know anything about it. That's why I called you
conceited. Here, come down into the cabin."

He took Steve by the arm, and the boy winced.

"What! Something wrong there, too?"

"I don't know," said Steve in an altered tone. "I don't know anything,
only that I'm so horribly conceited. If I did, I should say my shoulder
was wrenched with the jerk."

"Come along," said the doctor, changing his tone. "There, my lad, I was
a bit hard upon you; but you gave me a terrible fright, and I haven't
got over it yet."

He led the way toward the cabin; but before they reached the companion
hatch the captain came up, looking very stern. Then he, too, altered
his manner.

"What is it?" he said anxiously. "Steve is not hurt?"

"Not much, I think. We're going down to see."

"I hope not," said the captain quickly; and his eyes met Steve's as,
without another word, he quietly held out his hand.

It was a very simple action, but it meant a great deal; and as the lad
felt the quiet, firm pressure given to his fingers, he grew more and
more, as he had expressed himself, sorry for the pain he had so
inadvertently caused.

"Now, then," said the doctor, as soon as he had closed the cabin door,
"I ought to be very much obliged to you, Steve, for giving me something
to keep my surgical lore from growing rusty."

"Oh, I say!" cried the boy, "don't talk like that, sir. There isn't
much the matter, is there?"

"Not much the matter! Why, you talked about broken ribs. Don't you
call that much the matter?"

"Oh, but--"

"Here, let's see, patient. Don't; I'll do that."

He pressed the boy back on to the locker, and then proceeded to make his
examination, while Steve watched his face anxiously, trying to gather
from the intent countenance whether he had sustained any serious injury.

"Hum! ha!" ejaculated the doctor, as he went on manipulating the boy's
chest, back, and ribs. "That hurt you?"

"Horribly, sir."

"And that?"

"Yes, sir; worse."

"Can't help it. Well, that?"

"Oh! that's worse of all, sir."

"Humph! Now then, take a good, long, deep breath."

Steve obeyed.

"Now another, deeper and longer. Draw the air well in after an outward
breath, to empty the lungs. Hah! that's better. Well, there are no
broken rib ends piercing the lungs."

"Oh no, I hope not!" cried Steve anxiously. "The ribs are broken,
then?"

"Not they. All sound as min