r with it, and hold them to the galley
fire. I suppose it burns them. They all come black like that, and you
polish them up with a little beeswax, and there you are."

"Well, it was rather clever for a rough chap like you," said Fitz
grudgingly. "Can you play?"

"Oh, just a little--for a rough chap like me. One has so much time out
at sea."

"Oh, well, we'll have just one game. How many pieces shall I give you?"

"Oh, I should think you ought to give me half," was the reply.

"Very well," said Fitz cavalierly; "take half. I used to be a pretty
good fist at this at school. Where's your board?"

Poole thrust his hand under the cabin-table and turned a couple of
buttons, setting free a stiff piece of mill-board upon which a sheet of
white paper had been pasted and the squares neatly marked out and
blacked.

The pieces were placed, and the game began, with Fitz, after his bandage
had been re-moistened, supporting himself upon his left elbow to move
his pieces with his right hand, which somehow seemed to have forgotten
its cunning, for with double the draughts his cool matter-of-fact
adversary beat him easily.

"Yes," said Fitz, rather pettishly; "I'm a bit out of practice, and my
head feels thick."

"Sure to," said Poole, "knocked about as you were. Have some more
pieces this time."

"Oh no!" said Fitz, "I can beat you easily like this if I take more
care."

The pieces were set once more, and Fitz played his best, but he once
more lost.

"Have some more pieces this time," said Poole.

"Nonsense!" was snapped out. "I tell you I can beat you this way, and I
will."

The third game was played, one which took three times as long as the
last, and as he was beaten the middy let himself sink back on his pillow
with a gesture full of impatience.

"Yes," he said; "I know where I went wrong there. My head burns so, and
I wasn't thinking."

"Yes, I saw where you made that slip. You might as well have given up
at once."

"Oh, might I?" was snapped out.

"Here, let me give that handkerchief a good soaking before we begin
another."

"Yes, you didn't half wet it last time. Don't wring it out so much."

"All right. Why, it's quite hot. It must have made your head so much
the cooler. There, does that feel more comfortable?"

"Yes, that's better. Now make haste and set out the men."

Poole arranged the pieces, and Fitz sat up again.

"Here, what have you been doing?" he cried. "You have given m