to stay, and it makes me feel proud of our
crew. I'll shake hands with the lot as soon as I may go on deck."

"That's right enough, Ned, and as soon as you're fit Doctor Instow will
let you go."

"Tell you I'm fit as a fiddle now, sir," said the mate testily. "Why,
nothing would do me more good than to stretch myself by having a set-to
with that nigger as shot me."

"With one hand," said Jack dryly.

"Eh? With one hand, sir?" said the man, beginning to feel his
closely-bandaged arm.

"Yes; how could you fight with one hand?"

"I forgot all about that," said Ned thoughtfully. "Would be rather
awkward, wouldn't it?"

"Yes, I should think it would."

"Like fighting with one hand tied behind you, same as you did at
school."

"I never did have a fight at school," said Jack, quietly.

"No, of course not, sir; I remember you said so once before. Seems rum,
though. I used to have lots. But you were different, sir. My word
though, Mr Jack, how you have altered since we left home!"

"Think so, Ned? Have I?"

"Wonderful, sir. Don't you be offended, sir, at what I say."

"Not I, Ned."

"You would have been then, Mr Jack. Seems to me that you were quite an
old gentleman then, and now you've got to be quite a boy."

"Then I'm going backwards, Ned?"

"Not you, sir. You make me feel quite proud of you. Why, Bob Murray
told me yesterday that you'd been right up all three masts as high as
the sailors can get."

"Yes, I went up with my glass to look out for canoes. What of that?"

"What of that, sir? Well, fancy you trying to do such a thing a few
months ago!"

"Perhaps I am a little stronger now," said Jack thoughtfully.

"Stronger, sir! I should just think you are. But I say, Mr Jack."

"Yes?"

"About my arm. I should get licked now. Think it will ever come right
again?"

"Doctor Instow says it will, only it must have time. Do you feel any
sensation in it now?"

"Not a bit, sir. Doctor asked me if he hurt me when he altered the
bandages this morning, but I had to tell him he might do anything and I
should not feel it. Just as if it was quite dead. Rum, ain't it, sir?"

"It's very sad, Ned."

"Oh, I don't know, sir. It's a nuisance; but the doctor says it will
come right in time, so one's got to wait. He says he'll get the wound
healed up, and then we can talk to the nerves and muscles with some good
friction. Treat it like a lucifer, sir; give it a sharp rub and make it
go o