some of us to rattle a chain over his head, and
then make a rash, and you went down and telled him the ship was sinking,
he'd be quite well, thank ye, and come on deck and look out for a place
in the first boat."

"You're too hard upon him," I said, and not liking to hear the man talk
in this way, which sounded like an attempt to, what my father used to
call, curry favour, I went aft to find that the invalid passenger, Mr
John Denning, had been helped out on to the poop-deck by his sister and
the steward, and was now having a cane-chair lashed for him close up by
the mizzen-mast.

He beckoned as he caught sight of me, just as he was being lowered into
his place, and I went up slowly, for the captain and Mr Frewen were by
his side, and as I approached I heard him say rather irritably--

"Thank you, doctor. If I feel unwell I will ask you to help me. I'm
quite right, only half-suffocated by being down so long."

"Very good, Mr Denning. I only thought you might wish to avail
yourself of my services."

"Thank you; yes--of course."

I saw Miss Denning look pained, and press her brother's arm.

He turned upon her impatiently.

"Yes, yes, Lena, I know," he said; "and I have thanked Mr Frewen for
his attention. Now I want to be alone."

Mr Frewen raised his cap, and walked forward, descending to the
main-deck, and the invalid said something angrily to his sister which
made her eyes fill with tears.

I was passing on, but Mr Denning made a sharp gesture.

"No, no, I want you," he cried sharply.

"Then I'll say good-morning," said the captain, smiling at Miss Denning.
"I only wanted to say I was glad to see you on deck, sir."

"Thank you, captain; but don't go. I can't help being a bit irritable;
I've had so much to do with doctors that I hate them."

"John, dear!"

"Well, so I do, Lena. I was dying for want of some fresh air, and as
soon as I get on deck, captain, down swoops the doctor as if he were a
vulture and I was so much carrion."

"Oh, come, come, my lad, you won't talk like that when you've been on
deck a bit. Nothing like fresh air, sir. Keep yourself warm, though,
and we mustn't have you wet."

"Now, captain, don't, pray," cried the invalid.

"All right, then, I won't. Look here, then. If it gets too rough, come
into my cabin and have a cigar and a chat. You won't mind a little
smoke, my dear?"

"Oh no, Captain Berriman; not at all."

"That's right. You know where my cabin is, and