e crowd of
blacks forward appeared to be more cheerful.

Mark's great trouble was the state of Mr Russell, who still lay calmly
enough either below in the Yankee skipper's cot, or under an awning the
sailors had rigged up on the deck. He ate and drank mechanically, but
made not the slightest sign when spoken to, and for his sake Mark kept
every stitch of sail on that the schooner could bear, so as to reach
medical assistance as soon as possible.

Dance was decidedly better, but subject to fits of absence; and on these
occasions Tom Fillot said he was mad as a hatter.

But in spite of the anxieties and the terrible feeling of
responsibility, Mark found something very delightful in being the
captain for the time being of the smart schooner which sailed swiftly
along at the slightest breath of wind. There was the hot, hazy shore on
his right, and the glistening sea on his left, an ample crew which he
could recruit if he liked from the blacks, and all ready to obey his
slightest order with the greatest alacrity. He felt at times as if he
would be glad to sight the _Nautilus_, and so be relieved of all his
cares; but, on the other hand, he could not help feeling that he would
be sorry to give up and return to the midshipman's berth.

"I wish, though, that Bob Howlett was here," he said to himself, as he
longed for a companion of his own age and position.

"I don't know, though," he said, directly after. "If Bob were here, he
would not like to knuckle under and play second fiddle. Well, I
shouldn't either. Perhaps it's best is it is, I'm captain, and can do
as I like, only it isn't always nice to do as one likes, and I often
feel as if it would be much nicer to have some one to order me."

But there was no one to order him, and with the whole responsibility
upon his shoulders, he for the first time in his life began to realise
what it meant to be the captain of a ship, answerable for everything
thereon.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

A HORRIBLE THOUGHT.

Two days glided by, during which Tom Fillot proved himself to be
invaluable. The merry joker of the ship's company showed that he
possessed plenty of sound common sense, and that he was an excellent
seaman. Thrown, too, as he was, along with his young officer, he never
presumed thereon, but, evidently feeling how great a burden there was on
the lad's shoulders, he did all he could to lighten the load, by setting
a capital example to his messmates of quick obedi