"'Go away,' says Dan, 'don't come worrying 'ere; you 'eard the skipper
say how bad my prognotice was.'

"'You lend me the book,' ses Harry, ketching hold of him, 'or else I'll
bang you first, and split to the skipper arterwards. I believe I'm a bit
consumptive. Anyway, I'm going to see.'

"He dragged the book away from the old man, and began to study. There
was so many complaints in it he was almost tempted to have something
else instead of consumption, but he decided on that at last, an' he got
a cough what worried the fo'c'sle all night long, an' the next day, when
the skipper came down to see Dan, he could 'ardly 'ear hisself speak.

"'That's a nasty cough you've got, my man,' ses he, looking at Harry.

"'Oh, it's nothing, sir,' ses Harry, careless like. 'I've 'ad it for
months now off and on. I think it's perspiring so of a night does it."

"'What?' ses the skipper. 'Do you perspire of a night?'

"'Dredful,' ses Harry. 'You could wring the clo'es out. I s'pose it's
healthy for me, ain't it, sir?'

"'Undo your shirt,' ses the skipper, going over to him, an' sticking the
trumpet agin him. 'Now take a deep breath. Don't cough.'

"'I can't help it, sir,' ses Harry, 'it will come. Seems to tear me to
pieces.'

"'You get to bed at once," says the skipper, taking away the trumpet,
an' shaking his 'ed. 'It's a fortunate thing for you, my lad, you're in
skilled hands. With care, I believe I can pull you round. How does that
medicine suit you, Dan?'

"'Beautiful, sir,' says Dan. 'It's wonderful soothing, I slep' like a
new-born babe arter it.'

"'I'll send you some more,' ses the skipper. 'You're not to get up mind,
either of you.'

"'All right, sir,' ses the two in very faint voices, an' the skipper
went away arter telling us to be careful not to make a noise.

"We all thought it a fine joke at first, but the airs them two chaps
give themselves was something sickening. Being in bed all day, they was
naturally wakeful of a night, and they used to call across the fo'c'sle
inquiring arter each other's healths, an' waking us other chaps up. An'
they'd swop beef-tea an' jellies with each other, an' Dan 'ud try an'
coax a little port wine out o' Harry, which he 'ad to make blood with,
but Harry 'ud say he hadn't made enough that day, an' he'd drink to the
better health of old Dan's prognotice, an' smack his lips until it drove
us a'most crazy to 'ear him.

"Arter these chaps had been ill two days, the other felle