s furtively down his much wronged throat.

The other gentlemen watched these operations with mute delight; and,
after a space, Captain Templar challenged him to a bumper, which was
taken and swallowed without much squeamishness. The doctor found that
he had still a difficult task to play; he knew that his artifice was
discovered, and that the best way to repair the error was to boldly
throw off the transparent disguise. The presence of the two stranger
captains was still a restraint upon him. At length he cast his eyes
upon Captain Reud, and putting into his countenance the drollest look of
deprecation mingled with fun, said plaintively, "Are we friends, Captain
Reud?"

"The best in the world, doctor," was the quick reply, and he rose and
extended his open hand. Doctor Thompson rose also and advanced to the
head of the table, and they shook hands most heartily. The two other
captains begged to do the same, and to congratulate him on his rapid
convalescence.

"To prove to you, doctor, the estimation in which I hold you, you shall
dine with us, and we'll have a night of it," said the skipper.

"Oh! Captain Reud, Captain Reud, consider--really I cannot get well so
fast as that would indicate."

"You must, you must. Gentlemen, no man makes better punch. Consider
the punch, doctor."

"Truly, that alters the case. As these dolts of surgeons could not
fully understand the diagnostics of my disease, I suppose I must do my
duty for the _leetle_ while longer that I have to live. I _will_ do my
duty, and attend you punctually at five o'clock, in order to see that
there be no deleterious ingredients mingled in the punch." Saying which
he bowed and left the cabin, without leaning on the shoulder of either
of his assistants.

But he had yet the worst ordeal to undergo--to brave the attack of his
messmates--and he did it nobly. They were all assembled in the
ward-room; for those that saw him descend, if not there before, went
immediately and joined him. He waddled to the head of the table, and
when seated, exclaimed in a stentorian voice, "Steward, a glass of
half-and-half. Gentlemen, I presume you do not understand a medical
case. Steward, bring my case of pistols and the cold meat. I say, you
do not understand a medical case."

"But we do yours," interrupted two or three voices at once.

"No, you don't; you may understand that case better," shoving his
long-barrelled Manton duellers on to the middle of the