und, so did his mouth.

"For food, my dear young friend?" he said in his quiet way. "They are
being sent out by an acclimatisation society, in the hope that they will
assist to furnish Australia and New Zealand with a good supply of salmon
and trout. Look at the little beauties, how strong and healthy, and
bright and well they seem!"

I was afraid to look at Walters for fear he should make me laugh, so I
stood staring first in one tray then in the other, till it was time for
breakfast, and Walters whispered as we hung back to the last--

"I say, how I should like to kick that fish chap."

"Why?" I asked.

"Because he is so soft and fat."

By this time we were up by the cabin-door, and as we entered rather
awkwardly, the captain shouted to us from the other end--

"Here, youngsters, you can find a seat at this table," and just then I
saw my sick acquaintance standing up, and he beckoned to me.

"Come and sit by me," he said; "you will not mind, Captain Berriman?"

"Not I, sir," said that gentleman bluffly, and as I moved towards where
my new friend was seated, Walters said sharply in my ear, "Oh, that's
it, is it? Well, you are a sneak!"

CHAPTER FOUR.

These were the people I saw most of, on that first day. The next I did
not see any of them, for when I awoke next morning, it was to feel that
there was a heavy sea on, which somehow, from experience, I took quite
as a matter of course; but a deep groan below me, and sounding very
startling, taught me that some one else was not taking it in the same
fashion.

"That you, Dale?" came piteously.

"Yes; what's the matter?"

"Oh, pray go and fetch the doctor. Some of that meat we had has upset
me."

I looked at him, and certainly he seemed very ill, as I hurriedly began
to dress.

"Oh dear, oh dear," he groaned, "I never felt so bad as this before."

"I shan't be long," I said; "when did you begins to feel bad?"

"Don't, don't ask any questions," he cried, half-angrily; "do you want
to see me die?"

"Poor fellow!" I muttered, as I fought hard to get buttons through
their proper holes, after a desperate struggle with my trousers, into
which I got one leg, and had to try again and again to get in the other
as I stood; but so sure as I raised the second limb the ship gave a
lurch, and I either went against the bulk-head or banged up against our
bunks.

"You're doing that on purpose," groaned Walters. "Oh, do, do call for
help."

"No, I'd b