"Very well, then: choose one for me too, but I warn you, I shall fasten
mine down in the sheath with gum. I'm not going to take mine out, for
fear of cutting off somebody's legs or wings, or perhaps my own."

"You feel better now?" said the professor.

"Hold your tongue, sir--do! No: I don't feel better. I had forgotten
my pain, but now you've made me think about it again. There!--choose
two swords and knives and let's get back."

Two plain useful sabres were selected, and the dealer received his
orders to send the weapons to the hotel, after which the injured man was
helped into a standing position, but not without the utterance of
several groans. Then he was walked up and down the shop several times,
ending by declaring himself much better.

"There, Lawrence!" he cried, "that's the advantage of being an
Englishman. Now, if I had been a Dutchman or a Frenchman I should have
had myself carried back, sent for a couple of doctors, and been very bad
for a month or two; but you see I'm better already, and I'm not going to
give up to please the Grand Panjandrum himself. Dear me! bless my
heart! panjandrum! Pan--pan--pan--jan--jan--jan--drum! Where did I
hear that word?"

"In a sort of nursery ditty, sir," said Lawrence laughing.

"To be sure I did," cried the old man, "and I had forgotten it; but I
say, don't laugh like that, boy."

"Why not, sir?"

"Because it will make us believe that you have been shamming all this
time, and that you're really quite well, thank you, sir!--eh?"

"I--I think I am better," said Lawrence quickly. "I don't know why, but
I have not been thinking about being ill these last few days, everything
is so bright and sunshiny here, you see."

"Yes, I see," said the old lawyer, giving the professor a peculiar look;
and they went back to the hotel.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

THE GREEK SKIPPER.

"No, I can't do it," said Mr Burne after several brave efforts; "I
really am a good deal jarred, and it is quite impossible. I am quite
right as long as I keep still, but in such pain if I move that I can
hardly bear it."

"Then we will put off the journey for a week," said the professor
decisively.

"And disappoint the lad?" said Mr Burne. "No; you two must go."

"How can you talk like that?" exclaimed Lawrence sharply, "when you have
come on purpose to help me get strong again? Mr Preston, we shall stay
here--shall we not?"

"Of course," replied the professor. "The enjoyment of