, and
was eager to see what the tropic waters would have to show.

"Here, Dale," said the captain, "this sort of thing won't do. Where's
your messmate--Walters?"

"He's a little better this morning, sir, but not out of his bunk."

"You go down and tell him that if he is not up on deck in a quarter of
an hour, I'll send two of the men down to fetch him."

"Yes, sir," and I went and delivered my message to the poor,
miserable-looking, yellow-faced fellow, as he lay with his face screwed
up, only half seen in his bunk.

"I don't care. Let him send if he dares. I can't get up. I'll
complain to the owners. It's a cruel shame, and it's a wonder I haven't
died, left neglected down here."

"That you haven't been," I cried; "why, I've regularly nursed you, and
the steward couldn't have been kinder."

"Who said he could?" cried Walters, with plenty of animation now. "But
where's the doctor? What's a doctor carried on a ship for if he isn't
to attend to the sick people?"

"Oh, but you're not sick," I said.

"What?" he cried fiercely.

"Well, not now," I replied, laughing. "Of course you were, but you're
only qualmy now. Here, this place does smell stuffy. I'll open the
window."

"That you won't; I don't want to catch a bad cold. Wish I hadn't come
to sea in such a miserable ship."

"Nonsense. Get up and dress."

"Shan't!"

"But you'd feel ever so much better."

"How do you know? You go and tell the captain he's a brute, and I'm not
going to get up till I'm better."

"Not I. It would only be a lie," I said.

"What?"

"You are ever so much better. Shall I ask the steward to make you some
tea?"

"No, I couldn't touch it, and he wouldn't make it if you did. This
ain't a London hotel."

"Of course it isn't; but he'd make a cup if I asked him."

"No, he wouldn't. They're all brutes here."

"Look here," I cried, as I saw how argumentative he could be, and that
if he roused himself up he'd be better, "if you don't jump into your
trousers I'll be a brute too."

"What do you mean?" he said, sharply.

"I'll lay hold of one leg, and pull you out on to the floor."

"You dare to touch me, and I'll give you the biggest hiding you ever had
in your life."

"Not you. Come, get up, or the skipper will send down two fellows to
fetch you out."

"Let him at his peril," snarled my messmate, pulling the clothes higher.

"Shall I go and tell him that?"

"If you dare."

"Oh, I dare," I said, "but