ean any harm by it,
as it was only his Irish way of speaking; "I'll report you to the
sergeant."

"An' is it rayporting _me_, sor, you'd be afther, an' you thremblin' all
over," he rejoined, catching hold of me and helping to peel off my
soaking garments. "Faith, sor, I'll be afther rayportin' _you_ to the
docthor!"

"Hi, hullo, who's taking my name in vain?" at that moment exclaimed Dr
Nettleby himself, emerging from the gunroom at this critical juncture,
the worthy medico having been making his rounds, looking up some of
those of his patients who were not actually on the sick list. "I'm sure
I heard that Irish blackguard Macan's voice somewhere. Ah, it is you,
corporal, as I thought! Hi, hullo, what's the matter, youngster?"

"I--I'm all right, sir," said I, trying to rise, but sinking back again
on the lid of my chest, where I had been sitting down while the
good-natured marine was endeavouring to pull off my wet boots. "It is
nothing, sir."

"He's bin taking a dip in the say, sir, wid all his clothes on,"
explained Macan; "an' faith he's got a bit damp, sir."

"Damp, you call it, corporal? Why, he's dripping wet and chilled to the
bone!" cried the doctor, feeling my pulse. "How did this come about,
youngster?"

"It was an accident, sir," I replied hesitatingly, not wishing to
incriminate my messmates. "I would rather not speak of it, doctor, if
you'll excuse me."

"Oh, I see, skylarking, eh? Well, well, you must go to bed at once, or
you'll be in a high fever before sundown. Corporal Macan!"

"Yis, sor."

"Take this young gentleman to the sick bay and put him into a clean cot
with plenty of blankets round him. By the way, too, corporal, ask Dr
McGilpin to let you have a stiff glass of hot grog."

"For mesilf, sor?"

"No, you rascal, confound your cheek! Certainly not," replied the
doctor, amused by the question. "This young gentleman is to take it as
hot as he can drink it. It will throw him into a perspiration and make
him sleep. Do you hear, youngster?"

"Y-es, sir," I stammered out as well as I could, for my teeth were
chattering again and I was shaking all over. "Bu-but I'd rather not go
to the sick bay, sir, if you don't mind. I don't want anyone to hear of
wha--what has hap-hap-happened."

"Ah, yes, I see," said Dr Nettleby. "You're afraid of some of your
nice messmates getting hauled over the coals? I bet that madcap Larkyns
is at the bottom of it; I saw him with you close