ever so much good."

Mr Preddle rose suddenly to his elbow.

"Miss--They are not on deck?" he said eagerly. "What, Mr and Miss
Denning?"

"Yes," I said, looking at him wonderingly, for he appeared to be so
excited. "Oh yes; he's sitting up there, looking at the sea, and his
sister's standing by his chair."

"Would--would you mind helping me on with a few of my things, Mr Dale?"
he said hurriedly, as he began to creep out of his berth. "It's so
awkward dressing when the ship sways about so. It makes me feel giddy."

"Oh yes; I'll help you," I said.

"Thank you; it's very kind of you. The captain is quite right, and I'm
not doing what I ought about those fish. I will go and see to them. So
much time and expense was devoted to--oh, my gracious!"

I tried to save him, but he was too heavy, and we went down together
with him half over me; but I didn't feel it much, for he was very soft.
You see he had got one leg half-way into his trousers, when the Burgh
Castle gave a lurch, and bang he went up against the bulk-head, and then
on to the floor.

"Hurt yourself much, sir?" I said, as we both struggled up.

"Oh, horri--no, no, not much, thank you," he muttered. "I--I--haven't
quite got my sea-legs yet, as you sailors call it. That's better. Now
if you wouldn't mind, Mr Dale."

I didn't mind, of course, and I helped him all I could, thinking all the
while he was like a big fat boy we used to have at school, only Mr
Preddle was nearly three times the size. And all the time, though he
must have felt very faint and poorly, he kept a good face upon his
troubles, trying to laugh and make light of them, till I said, merrily--

"That's the way, Mr Preddle. Now, if you get up on deck and don't
think about the ship rolling, you will soon be better."

"Yes," he said; "I believe I should if I only could keep from thinking
about the ship rolling. But it won't let me." This was while he was
rubbing his big, round, smooth face, which looked as good-natured as
possible, though the smile upon it was only forced.

"Oh, but you'll soon get over it," I cried. "I'll stop and help you
up."

"Yes, do please stop," he said hurriedly; "but don't try and help me up.
I'm going to walk up and balance myself. I shall keep close to the
bulwarks, don't you call them, and hold on. Which is the best side?"

"I should go along on the weather side," I replied. "You may get
splashed a bit; but you'll soon learn not to mind th