e.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

TAKEN BY SURPRISE.

It was the next day, when the yacht was just beginning to glide over the
water again to pass through the opening in the reef, that Jack was
sitting by Ned's berth.

"Here, I call it foolishness, Mr Jack, sir, I do really. What is the
good of my lying here?"

"To get strong and well. Doctor Instow knows best."

"Well, he thinks he knows best, sir; but he can't know so well as I do
how I feel."

"You lie still and be patient."

"But I can't, sir. Here's Mr Bob Murray, who's a good enough steward,
valeting you and Sir John, and of course he can't do it properly."

"Nonsense. He is very good and attentive."

"Pooh, sir! So could any chap in the ship be good and attentive, but
what's the use of that if he don't understand his work?"

"Why, there's nothing to understand."

"Oho! Isn't there, sir! Don't you run away with that idea. There's a
lot. It seems nothing to you because things go so easy with you and the
guv'nor. You find your clean shirts and fresh socks all ready laid out
at the proper time, and you put 'em on just as you do your clothes, and
think it's nothing; but all the time there's some one been there
thinking it out first. Cold and dull morning; these trousers and that
silk shirt won't do, and warmer ones are there. Going to be a scorching
hot day, and it's the thinnest things in the bunks. Then don't I manage
the buttons the same? and when did you ever find a button off anywhere?"

"No, I never did, Ned."

"There! I suppose you think, sir, that when a button's knocked off
another one comes up like a mushroom in the night; but you take my word
for it, sir, buttons don't come up so how, and it's never having no
troubles like that to a gentleman that means having a good valet. I
don't say nothing about holes in socks or stockings, because when it
gets to that a gentleman ought to give 'em away. No, sir, it won't do.
Every man to his trade, and I'm fretting to get back to my work, for it
wherrits me to have other people meddling with my jobs. I don't believe
I shall find a thing in its place."

"Never mind all that, Ned. I've got something to tell you."

"Have you, sir? Let's have it."

"I don't know what you'll say to it."

"More do I, sir. Let's hear what it is."

Ned told him of what had passed on deck concerning the stay at the
island.

"Glad of it, Mr Jack," said Ned excitedly. "I should have been wild if
you'd