t that isn't what I
meant. What I thought was that though he seemed rather nice at first,
he keeps on growing more and more disagreeable. He treats me sometimes
just as if I were a dog."

"Well, you always were a precious young puppy, Poole," said the skipper,
with a twinkle of the eye.--"Ah! No impudence now! If you dare to say
that it's no wonder when I am such a rough old sea-dog, I'll throw
something at you."

"Then it won't be thrown," said the lad, laughing. "But really, father,
he is so stuck up and consequential sometimes, ordering me about, and
satisfied with nothing I do, that it makes me feel peppery and ready to
tell him that if he isn't satisfied he'd better do the things himself."

"Bah! Don't take any notice of him, boy. It's all a good sign, and
means he's getting well fast."

"Well, it's not a very pleasant way of showing it, father."

"No, my boy, no; but we can't very well alter what is. Fellows who have
been ill, and wounded men when they are taking a right turn, are weak,
irritable, and dissatisfied. I think you'll find him all right by and
by. Take it all calmly. He's got something to suffer, poor fellow,
both mentally and from that hurt upon his head. Well, I'll go back on
deck. I did come down to examine and dress his sconce again, but I'll
leave that till another time."

He had hardly spoken before Fitz opened his eyes with a start, saw who
was present, and turned pettishly away.

"Oh, it's you, doctor, is it?" he said. "I wish you wouldn't be always
coming in here and bothering and waking me up. What do you want now?"

"I was only coming to bathe and re-plaster your head, squire," replied
the bluff skipper good-humouredly.

Fitz gave himself an angry snatch round, and fixed his eyes frowningly
upon the speaker.

"Look here," he said, "let's have no more of that, if you please. Have
the goodness to keep your place, sir. If you don't know that you have a
gentleman on board, please to learn it now, and have the goodness to be
off and take that clumsy oaf with you. I want to sleep."

"Certainly," said the skipper quietly, and his son gave him a wondering
look. "But as I am here I may as well see to your head. It is quite
time it was done again."

"Look here," cried Fitz, "am I to speak again? I told you to go. When
I want my head bandaged again I will send you word."

"All right, my lad," said the skipper good-humouredly.

"All right, _what_?" cried Fitz. "Wi