isn't that good news
enough for one morning?"

Fitz made no reply, but lay with his face contracting, evidently
thinking of something else.

"As soon as he's gone," continued Poole, "I am going to bring the lines
and some bait. Old Butters said you could have them as much as you
liked. Don't turn gruff again this time and say you don't want to try."

Fitz appeared to take no notice, and Poole went on--

"There are shoals of bonito about, and the Camel can dress them fine.
You don't know how good they are, freshly caught and fried."

Fitz made an impatient gesture.

"How soon is your father coming below?" he said.

"Oh, he may be down any moment. He and Mr Burgess are taking
observations overhead and calculating our course."

"Then he won't be very long," said Fitz.

"Oh no. Want to speak to him?"

"Yes, particularly."

Poole gave the speaker a sharp look, which evidently meant, I wonder
what he wants to say.

At that moment the boys' eyes met, and Fitz said, as if to evade a
question--

"Don't you learn navigation--take observations, and that sort of thing?"

"Oh yes, lots of it; but I have been having a holiday since you've been
on board. So have you. It must be quite a change after your busy life
on board a gunboat, drilling and signalling, and all that sort of
thing."

Fitz was hearing him speak, but listening intently all the time, so that
he gave an eager start and exclaimed--

"Here's your father coming now."

For steps were plainly heard on the companion-ladder, and the next
minute the door was thrust open, and the bluff-looking skipper entered
the cabin.

"Morning, sir," he cried. "How are we this morning? Oh, it doesn't
want any telling. You are getting on grandly. Did Poole tell you I
wanted you to come up on deck this afternoon?"

"Yes, sir; thank you. I feel a deal better now, only my legs are very
weak when I try to stand up holding on by my berth."

"Yes, I suppose so," said the skipper, sitting down by the boy's head
and watching him keenly. "You are weak, of course, but it's more
imaginary than real. Any one who lays up for a week or two would feel
weak when he got out of bed."

"But my head swims so, sir."

"Exactly. That's only another sign. You are eating well now, and
getting quite yourself. But I am going to prescribe you another dose."

"Physic?" said Fitz, with a look of disgust.

"Yes, fresh air physic. I want you to take it very coolly for the nex