e two
more."

"Well," said the skipper's son, smiling, "it'll make us more equal."

"Don't you holloa till you're out of the wood," cried Fitz haughtily,
and he flicked the two extra pieces off the board. "Do you think I'm
going to let you beat me? My head's clearer now. I think I know how to
play a game of draughts."

The sick boy thought so, but again his adversary proved far stronger,
winning easily; and the middy dropped back on the pillow.

"It isn't fair," he cried.

"Not fair."

"You didn't tell me you could play as well as that."

"Of course not. I wasn't going to brag about my playing. Let's have
another game. I think we're about equal."

"No, I'm tired now. I say," added Fitz, after a pause, as he lay
watching the draughtsmen being dropped slowly back into the bag, "don't
take any notice of what I said. I don't want you to think me cocky and
bragging. My head worries me, and it makes me feel hot and out of
temper, and ready to find fault with everything. We'll have another
game some day if I'm kept here a prisoner. Perhaps I shall be able to
play better then."

"To be sure you will. But it doesn't matter which side wins. It is
only meant for a game."

CHAPTER EIGHT.

A BASIN OF SOUP.

Fitz had just finished his semi-apology when the fastening of the door
clicked softly; it was pushed, and a peculiar-looking, shaggy head was
thrust in. The hair was of a rusty sandy colour, a shade lighter than
the deeply-tanned face, while a perpetual grin parted the owner's lips
as if he were proud to show his teeth, though, truth to tell, there was
nothing to be proud of unless it was their bad shape and size. But the
most striking features were the eyes, which somehow or another possessed
a fiery reddish tinge, and added a certain fierceness to a physiognomy
which would otherwise have been very weak.

Fitz started at the apparition.

"The impertinence!" he muttered. "Here, I say," he shouted now, "who
are you?"

"Who am I, laddie?" came in a harsh voice. "Ye ken I'm the cook."

"And what do you want here, sir? Laddie, indeed! Why didn't you
knock?"

"Knock!" said the man, staring, as he came right in.

"I didna come to knock: just to give you the word that it's all hot and
ready now."

"What's hot and ready?"

"The few broth I've got for you. Ye didna want to be taking doctor's
wash now, but good, strong meaty stuff to build up your flesh and
bones."

Fitz stared.

"Lo