after all a
rest after his rough journey would make the boatswain more able to bear
examination and bandaging, he hurried off to find that he need not have
troubled himself, for Roylance was doing everything possible, and the
vessel was being safely moored head and stern.

But he was in time to have the boatswain's proposition carried out, and
a couple of pieces of spar were hung over the side to keep her from
tearing and grinding on the edge of the natural pier.

As Syd was returning he came upon Terry, looking black as night, and
held out his hand.

"I'm sorry there should have been any fresh unpleasantness," he said.
"Can't we be friends, Mr Terry?"

"That's just what I want to be, Belton," cried Terry, eagerly, seizing
the proffered hand. "I'm afraid I did interfere a bit too much to-day."

"And somehow," mused Syd, as he went on to the hospital, "I can't feel
as if it's all genuine. It's like shaking hands with a sole and five
sprats. Ugh! how cold and fishy his hand did feel."

The lieutenant was lying in the hospital with his eyes closed, and Pan
was bathing his father's brow with water, using his injured arm now and
then out of forgetfulness, but putting it back in the sling again as
soon as it was observed.

"Arn't much the matter with it, I know, Pan-y-mar," the injured man
whispered, as Syd halted by the door to see how his new patient seemed,
trembling terribly in his ignorance at having to put his smattering of
surgery to the test once more.

"Ah, you dunno, father," grumbled the boy. "You've ketched it this
time. I don't talk about getting no rope's-ends to you."

"No, my lad, you don't. I should jest like to ketch you at it. But you
won't see me going about in a sling."

"Ah, you dunno yet, father."

"Don't I? You young swab; why, if I had my head took off with a shot, I
wouldn't howl as you did."

"Why, yer couldn't, father," said Pan, grinning.

"What, yer laughing at me, are yer? Just you wait till I gets a few
yards o' dackylum stuck about me, and you'll get that rope's-end yet,
Pan-y-mar."

"Oh, no! I shan't," said Pan in a whisper, after glancing at the
lieutenant, who was lying with his eyes closed. "You'll be bad for two
months."

"What? Why, you sarcy young lubber, if the luff warn't a-lying there
and I didn't want to wake him, I'd give yer such a cuff over the ear as
'd make yer think bells was ringing."

"Couldn't reach," said Pan, dabbing his face.

"Then I'd