She thinks it wass a shame to pring us all oop here to dee."

There was a low murmur of acquiescence here among the men, and Steve
felt a shiver run through him, as if the men's dread and despondency
were contagious. But he brightened up the next minute, and said
lightly:

"This doesn't sound very brave;" and he pushed by the men and descended
to the forecastle, where Andrew lay staring at the dim light swinging
from one of the beams.

"Hullo, Andra!" he cried cheerily, though he knew the jubilant sound of
his voice was forced; "lying down? How are the pipes?"

"The pipes are froze hard, Meester Stevey, an' she'll hae them put wi'
her in the hole in the snow."

"What, to thaw them?" cried Steve. "Nonsense! you're not so bad as
that. Where's Watty?"

"Oh!" came from right forward out of the darkness.

"What a groan!" cried Steve boisterously. "Here, come out, you lazy old
rascal; we're just going on a bit of a trip. Where are you? Oh, I say,
you do like playing dormouse."

"Oh, dinna tooch her, sir; she's froze all through, and she'll preak."

"Nonsense! Let's have a look at you, Watty!" cried Steve jovially,
though his heart ached as he spoke and thought of how the doctor had
said that unless the men's spirits were kept up they would droop and
die.

As he spoke he half dragged the lad, blankets, and all into the light.

"Why, you're not half frozen yet."

"Hey, put she dinna ken. She's a' ane muckle chilplain."

"Then come out, and have a run through the snow."

"Nay, she'll never rin acain."

"Yes, you will. I want you, Watty. Come along."

"Nay, she dinna like her, an' she never tid. She's ferry pad."

"Did the doctor say so?"

"No," growled Andrew; "she said it wass nothing the matter with the
callant, and she ought to ket oop and rin apoot."

"Eh?" cried Watty, rising up so quickly that he knocked his head against
the bottom of the next bunk. "The doctor said Andra wass petter as I
am, Meester Stevey, an' she should pe apoot her wairk. She's ferry well
inteet."

"A lee!" cried Andrew fiercely. "The doctor dinna ken how sair she be.
She's ferry pad, and she's coing to dee."

"So we all are, some day, Andra. Come, man, get up, and you, too,
Watty."

"Na, na--na, na," came with quite a duet of groans. "Oh, I say!" cried
Steve. "I know I feel quite as bad and low-spirited as you both do.
Come, Watty laddie, it's horribly dull without you. Get up."

"She dinna want her, si