ght, old chap. Have a good snooze if you can; but don't mind
if you can't get to sleep. I'll open the port-hole as wide as possible
so as to get as much cool air as I can into the place. All you want is
rest. You don't want the doctor."

"No; that's right; I don't want the doctor." And then, eagerly taking
his companion's arm, the lad permitted himself to be led below, where he
threw off his jacket and turned into his cot with a sigh of relief.

"Ah," he said, "that's better! Never mind me now. Go up on deck, and
if any one asks about me say I'm having a sleep after the ducking."

"All right," replied Murray, and he saw in the semi-darkness that the
middy had closed his eyes tightly but seemed to have to make an effort
to keep the quivering and twitching lids still.

"I say, Franky," came from the cot, after a short pause.

"Well?"

"You're not gone on deck."

"No, not yet. Come, off you go. Like a glass of water?"

"No! No water."

"Well, what is it?"

"I only wanted to say something, Frank," whispered the poor fellow, in a
faltering voice.

"Better not, old chap. You want rest, and not to bother your brain with
talking."

"Thank you, doctor," said the lad, with a faint smile. "Why, you're
ever so much better than old Reston. Yes, I want sleep, for my head
seems to be all of a buzz; but I must say something before I can get
off."

"Well, then, look sharp and say it. Well, what is it?"

"Only this, Franky, old fellow--"

"Well, what is it?" said Murray, after the pause which followed the last
words. "There, let it go; I'm sure it will keep."

"No, no," whispered the lad excitedly. "It won't keep. I feel as if I
can't bear to say it, and yet that I can't bear to keep it back. There,
that sounds half mad, doesn't it? I--I--"

"Is it anything to do with what you said to me a bit ago?"

"Hah! Thank you, old fellow; you've made me feel as if I could say it
now," whispered the lad hoarsely. "Franky, I feel as if I've been an
ungrateful beast to you."

"Hold hard, Dick," said Murray quickly; and he laid his hand upon the
one lying close to the edge of the cot. "I understand how hard it must
be for you to talk about it, and it's just as hard for me to listen. So
look here, Dick. You haven't been yourself, lad; when a fellow's a bit
off his head he isn't accountable for what he says. I know; so look
here. Am I hurt and annoyed by what you said? Not a bit of it. That's
right, i