"Hah!" said the doctor, as soon as they were alone; "they want to go too
fast, and undo my work. I shall not have done with you yet awhile,
Vandean, and you'll have to attend very strictly to my orders if I'm to
make a man of you. Did you take my medicine?"

"Yes, sir."

"Sure?"

Mark coloured.

"Yes, sir, I told you."

"Cock-a-doodle-doo!" cried the doctor. "Dear me, how bumptious we are,
young fellow. There, I believe you, but that's more than I'd do for
some of your tribe. There's Mr Bob Howlett, for instance. If he had
to take a dose, I should not only stop till he had emptied the glass,
but I should pinch his nose till I was sure he had swallowed it. There,
I will not give you more than is good for you, my lad. You think I'm
glad to get hold of a job, and will not leave it till I'm obliged; but
don't you fall into an error about that, my dear sir. I'm too fond of
ease."

"I'm sure you will do the best you can for me," said Mark; "and I want
to be grateful."

"Ah! Then you're an exception, my lad."

"How is Mr Russell, sir?"

"Getting on, but obstinate; wants to be well all at once, and get to his
duties. I must go and see him now. Mind and take your stuff regularly.
Morning."

The cabin was empty once more, save for the patient, who uttered a sigh
of relief, and lay listening to the soft _pad_, _pad_ of the sailors'
bare feet on the deck, and the voices of the officers giving their
orders, all sounding pleasantly familiar as he lay back there feeling
that he must be better from the interest he took in all that was going
on, and the pleasant clearness of his head.

"I wonder how long it will be before they have me on deck," he said to
himself.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

"SOUP" AND "TATERS."

"Hooray!" cried Bob Howlett, about a week later, as he burst into the
cabin.

"What is it?" cried Mark, excitedly. "Why are they getting the anchor
up?"

"Don't know. Nobody knows but the skipper, but we're off somewhere,
thank goodness, and you're to come on deck to-day, and old Russell too."

"That is good news."

"Yes, I shall have you all right now, in no time, getting the breeze
away from this dismal shore. Here, I've told your lady's-maid--

"Hoozoar we're off to sea--he--he,
Hoozoar we're off to sea."

Mark thrust his fingers into his ears till the last word was sung, and
then withdrew them.

"Here, what do you mean about the lady's-maid?"

"I've told Tom Fillot to come. He'