and to convince her that he had
really reformed his manners. With a desperate struggle he leaped out of
his berth, and put on his jacket. The Roebuck was still pitching
heavily, and it was almost impossible for him to keep on his feet. He
had hardly tasted food for two days, and was very weak from the effects
of his sickness.

He crawled on deck as well as he was able, followed by Captain
McClintock, who regarded him with a look of malignant triumph. Poor
Noddy felt like a martyr; but for Mollie's sake, he was determined to
bear his sufferings with patience and resignation, and to obey the
captain, even if he told him to jump overboard. He did what was almost
as bad as this, for he ordered the sick boy to swab up the deck--an
entirely useless operation, for the spray was breaking over the bow of
the Roebuck, and the water was rushing in torrents out of the lee
scuppers. But Noddy, true to his resolution, obeyed the order, and
dragged his weary body forward to perform his useless task. For half an
hour he labored against nature and the elements, and of course
accomplished nothing. It was all "work" and no "win."

A boy who had the resolution and courage to face a dozen angry fellows
as large as himself, certainly ought not to lack the power to overcome
the single foe that beset him from within. Noddy was strong enough for
the occasion, even in his present weakly condition. It was hard work,
but the victory he won was a satisfactory reward.

The captain's vision was rather imperfect in his present state, and he
took it into his head that the foretop-gallant sail was straining the
topmast. Mr. Watts respectfully assured him the topmast was strong
enough to stand the strain; but the master was set in his own opinion.
Apparently his view was adopted for the occasion, for he ordered Noddy
to go aloft and furl the sail. Mollie protested when she heard this
order, for she was afraid Noddy was so weak that he would fall from the
yard. The cabin-boy, strong in the victory he had just won, did not even
remonstrate against the order; but, with all the vigor he could command,
he went up the fore-rigging. He was surprised to find how much strength
an earnest spirit lent to his weak body.

The pitching of the Roebuck rendered the execution of the order very
difficult to one unaccustomed to the violent motion of a vessel in a
heavy sea; but in spite of all the trials which lay in his path, he
furled the sail. When he came down to t