s fish and then help him back again.

"It's so good of you," he used to say; "I'm not used to the sea, and if
I get worse, do please go and see to my poor fish."

"Yes, they shan't be neglected," I said. "But I think the sea's going
down, and you'll be all right, sir, then."

He shook his head sorrowfully, and when I helped him to lie down again--
no easy task, for he was so big--he shut his eyes and whispered, "How is
our sick friend?" he said.

"What, Walters, my messmate?"

"No, no, the passenger, Mr Denning."

"I haven't seen him, but the steward said he seemed pretty well, sir."

"Impossible. In such a delicate state of health. Have you seen the
lady?"

"No, she has not been on deck."

"No. It would be too rough," sighed the poor fellow. "What's that?" he
cried, excitedly, "something wrong?"

"I'll go and see," I said; for there had reached us the sound of an
angry voice, and then a noise as of something falling overhead, and as I
hurried out and on deck, I could hear the captain storming furiously,
evidently at one of the men.

CHAPTER FIVE.

"And sarve him jolly well right," growled Hampton, looking at me as I
hurried forward to where Captain Berriman was following up one of the
sailors, who, with his hand to his bleeding cheek, was gazing fiercely
at his officer and backing away toward the forecastle.

"Yes," shouted the captain, "get down below and don't show yourself to
me again to-day, you scoundrel. Call yourself a sailor, and haven't
learned the first line of a sailor's catechism--obedience to his
officer."

The captain's face was flushed and the veins in his brow were knotted,
but the aspect of his countenance changed directly, as in backing away
from him the man did not allow for the heaving of the ship, and the
consequence was that he stumbled, tried to save himself, and then fell
heavily and rolled over into the lee-scuppers, but picked himself up and
then hurried forward and out of sight.

As I looked back at the captain, it was to see his rugged face twinkling
now with mirth, and he turned to Mr Frewen the doctor, who had hurried
on deck at the noise.

"There, doctor," he said, "you see the old Burgh Castle wouldn't rest
easy, and see her skipper insulted. Pitched the scoundrel off his legs.
That comes of having these mongrel sort of fellows aboard. He's half a
Frenchman. Shipped in a hurry. An insolent dog. Got my blood up; for
as long as I walk this deck, right or