er," I cried, as I bumped gently
up and down. "Good for you after lying there so long. Ready for
another try?"

I gave so heavy a bump that he yelled out, but I only laughed, for every
doubt of his condition had passed away, as he proved to me in our
struggle that he was as strong and well able to be about as I.

"Now then, if I get off, will you wash and dress?"

"I'll thrash you till you can't stand," he snarled.

"Not you. Be too grateful; and if you speak like that again I'll nip
your ribs twice as hard."

"You wait till I get up."

"You're not going to get up," I said, "till you promise to behave
yourself."

"I'll make you sorry for this, my fine fellow, as soon as I'm well."

"Then you had better do it at once," I said, "if you can."

He gave another heave, but I was too firmly settled, and he subsided
again, and lay panting and glaring at me fiercely.

"There, let's have no more nonsense," I said at last; "don't be so
silly. I only did it all in fun to get you to make an effort. Will you
get up quietly and shake hands?"

"No!" he roared, and he gave such a jerk that I had hard work to keep my
seat, while he struck at me savagely with his doubled fists.

"Wo ho!" I cried, as I managed to secure his wrists, and now as I saw
his malignant look, I began to feel uncomfortable, and to wish that I
had gone some other way to work to bring him round.

"You shall repent all this, you wretch!" he cried.

"Pooh!" I said contemptuously, for my own temper was rising; "I am not
afraid. There, get up and dress at once, and don't make an idiot of
yourself."

As I spoke I gathered myself together, and with one effort I sprang to
my feet, being quite on my guard, but expecting the greater part of what
he had said was talk, and that he would not dress himself. But to my
astonishment he leaped up, dashed at me, striking out right and left,
and the next minute there would have been an angry fight on the way, if
the door had not suddenly darkened and a voice which I recognised as Mr
Brymer's exclaimed--

"Hullo! what's all this?"

My rising anger was checked on the instant as Walters started back, and
the chief mate and Mr Frewen came in.

"Walters has got a fit, sir," I said, laughing.

"I haven't," he cried furiously; "this cowardly beast has been dragging
me out of my bunk when I was so ill I could hardly move myself."

"The captain said he was to get up, sir," I pleaded; "and I tried to
coax him f