on the precious deck."

"Well, my lads," said a hearty voice just then; "how long are you going
to play at being old women? Come, rouse a bit."

"No, thankye, sir," said Jem, in a miserable tone. "Bit? I haven't bit
anything since I've been aboard."

"Then rouse up, and bite something now," cried the boatswain. "Come, my
lad," he continued, turning to Don, "you've got too much stuff in you to
lie about like this. Jump up, and come on deck in the fresh air."

"I feel so weak, sir; I don't think I could stand."

"Oh, yes, you can," said the boatswain. "That's better. If you give
way to it, you'll be here for a week."

"Are we nearly there, sir?" said Jem, with a groan.

"Nearly there? You yellow-faced lubber. What do you mean?"

"Where we're going to," groaned Jem.

"Nearly there? No. Why?"

"Because I want to go ashore again. I'm no use here."

"We'll soon make you of some use. There, get up."

"But aren't we soon going ashore?"

"If you behave yourself you may get a run ashore at the Cape or at
Singapore; but most likely you won't leave the ship till we get to
China."

"China?" said Jem, sitting up sharply. "China?"

"Yes, China. What of that?"

"China!" cried Jem. "Why, I thought we were sailing round to Plymouth
or Portsmouth, or some place like that. China?"

"We're going straight away or China, my lad, to be on that station for
some time."

"And when are we coming back, sir?"

"In about three years."

"Mas' Don," said Jem, dolefully; "let's get up on deck, sir, and jump
overboard, so as to make an end of it."

"You'd better not," said the boatswain, laughing at Jem's miserable
face. "You're in the king's service now, and you've got to work.
There, rouse up, and act like a man."

"But can't we send a letter home, sir?" asked Don.

"Oh, yes, if you like, at the first port we touch at, or by any ship we
speak. But come, my lad, you've been sea-sick for days; don't begin to
be home sick. You've been pressed as many a better fellow has been
before you. The king wants men, and he must have them. Now, young as
you are, show that you can act like a man."

Don gave him an agonised look, but the bluff boatswain did not see it.

"Here, you fellows," he cried to the rest of the sick men; "we've given
you time enough now. You must get up and shake all this off. You'll
all be on deck in a quarter of an hour, so look sharp."

"This here's a nice game, Mas' Don. Do you know