"We'll see; if you behave well, I'll pass it by, and say nothing more
about it."

"Thank you, sir."

The captain did not speak as though he meant what he said. It was
evident from his conduct during the forenoon, that he had not
forgotten, if he had forgiven, Noddy's impudent speech. He addressed him
rather harshly, and appeared not to like his presence.

In the forenoon the vessel passed Highland Light, and before night Noddy
saw the last of the land. There was a heavy blow in the afternoon, and
the Roebuck pitched terribly in the great seas. The cabin-boy began to
experience some new and singular sensations, and at eight bells in the
evening he was so seasick that he could not hold up his head.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE SHARK.

For two days Noddy suffered severely from seasickness, and Mollie was
full of tenderness and sympathy. Captain McClintock still mocked the
poor child's hopes, and still broke the promises which should have been
sacred, for he was intoxicated each day. On the second, while Noddy was
lying in his berth, the captain, rendered brutal by the last dram he had
taken, came out of his state-room, and halted near the sick boy.

"What are you in there for, you young sculpin?" said he. "Why are you
not on deck, attending to your duty?"

"I am sick, sir," replied Noddy, faintly.

"Sick! We don't want any skulking of that sort on board this vessel. You
want to shirk your duty. Turn out lively, and go on deck."

"But he is sick, father," said Mollie.

"Go away, Mollie. You will spoil the boy. Come, tumble out, youngster,
or I shall bring down the rope's end," replied the captain.

The daughter pleaded for her patient; but the father was ugly and
unreasonable, and persisted in his purpose. Noddy did not feel able to
move. He was completely prostrated by the violence of his disagreeable
malady; and five minutes before, he would not have considered it
possible for him to get out of his berth. He must do so now or be
whipped; for there was no more reason in the captain than there was in
the main-mast of the schooner. He was not able to make any resistance,
if he had been so disposed.

It was very hard to be obliged to go on deck when he was sick,
especially as there was no need of his services there. He raised his
head, and sat upright in the berth. The movement seemed completely to
overturn his stomach again. But what a chance this was, thought he, to
show poor Mollie that he was in earnest,