turned
out, donned a dry suit of clothes, and sallied forth to the wardroom,
with the twofold object of ascertaining if there was any news as to
Master Julius's fate and getting something to eat.

Upon entering the wardroom I found Kennedy, Mackenzie, Grimwood the
purser, and, somewhat to my astonishment, the doctor, present and
chatting animatedly. Moreover, I gathered that they were talking about
me, for as I passed through the open doorway Kennedy looked up and
exclaimed:

"And begorra here's himself, no less! Talk of the--Here, bring yourself
to an anchor on the sofa, lad, and let's have a look at ye! Faith! but
your morning's experience has taken it out of ye, by the looks of ut.
But never ye mind that, me bhoy, ye'll weather it all right, and ye'll
always have the memory of havin' done a gallant thing, whatever happens.
By the Piper, lad, we're all proud of ye, from the skipper downward."

They all came crowding round me as I sank upon the sofa, and insisted
upon shaking hands with me, saying so many nice and complimentary things
to me that I presently began to feel quite abashed. Then Harper
interfered authoritatively.

"There!" he exclaimed, waving the crowd away, "that will do, you chaps.
Let up upon the youngster a bit and give him a chance. What you want,"
he continued, turning to me and laying his fingers upon my pulse, "is a
meal first--not a heavy meal, but something good and nourishing, and
then another spell of sleep. Mac, have the goodness to press the button
for the steward, and I'll give him an order. How is your appetite, my
British hero?"

"Why," said I, "to confess the truth I turned out because I felt hungry,
and came in here with the hope of getting something to eat. But,
Doctor, I want to know about the boy. I did the best I could for him,
and was determined to bring him back with me if I was fortunate enough
to fetch the ship again; but I felt certain there was no life left in
him, even before I got hold of the buoy."

"And that is just where you were mistaken, young man. Oh! here you are,
steward," as that individual entered in response to the summons of the
bell. "I want you to go to the cook and tell him--from me, you
understand--to give you a good big basin of that chicken broth I
instructed him to prepare, and bring it here for Mr Leigh, with a slice
of bread from a loaf baked yesterday, if anything of the sort remains.
Then, when you have brought the broth, go to Mr Mar