ng to the
two officers; "you don't think much of your doctor, but what do you say
to that?"

He patted Mark's head as he spoke.

"I believe half the surgeons in the navy would have let the poor fellows
slip through their fingers. I saved them all when they were in the most
hopeless state."

"Not all," said Mr Staples, with a sharp look at the captain. "What
about the poor niggers?"

"Well, I saved two of them, sir. The others were as good as dead when
you called me to them. Humph! did my part better than you did yours.
Why didn't you take the schooner?"

The captain laughed.

"He has us there, Staples," he said. "Let the doctors alone; they are a
bad set of people to play with. Only serve you out when you come into
their hands. Don't take any notice of him, Whitney. Well, Vandean, I'm
very glad to see you so cheerful, but don't presume upon it. You must
take it quietly, and be patient. I want to see you on deck again."

"Quite out of the question yet," said the doctor, sharply.

"I don't mean on duty, Whitney," said the captain smiling, "but in a
cane seat under the awning. It would be brighter and better for him to
see the men about."

"Thank you, sir," cried Mark, with a smile full of gratitude.

"Oh, that's different," said the doctor. "Well, after a few days I'll
have him carried up."

"Yes," said the first lieutenant, "and he can lie there and hatch
mischief along with Mr Howlett, and play with the monkey. Nice trio."

"Eh? Oh, yes, by the way, I cannot allow you young gentlemen to have
pets of that class on board my ship. You are not schoolboys now. Why,
you will be wanting white mice and guinea-pigs next!"

"Shall I have the animal thrown overboard?" said Mr Staples.

"Hump! Well--er--not till Mr Vandean is better. You'd like to keep it
a little longer, eh?" said the captain, turning to the young invalid.

"Very much," cried Mark, as he thought of the quaint little old man he
and Bob Howlett had bought.

"Very well, you can for the present."

"And now, gentlemen," interposed the doctor, "my patient requires rest
and cool air. You are fidgeting him and making the place hot."

"That means go. Well, Staples, we must give way, I suppose. The doctor
is always above the admiral. Make haste and get well, Vandean.
Good-bye."

He shook hands warmly and turned to leave the cabin, the first
lieutenant following his example, and turning to give the midshipman a
friendly nod.