poken, paid every
attention in their power to old Tom and his companions, and put them
into their berths, where they all in a few minutes fell fast asleep.

Next day Harry and Bass, having somewhat recovered, crawled on deck.
They learned that the ship was the _Swordfish_; that Captain Boucher,
the master, was an odd-tempered man, and that, as she had been out more
than a year and caught but few whales, and had of late had nothing but
ill-luck, he was in an especial bad humour. The captain was walking up
and down, abusing the officers, who behaved in the same way towards the
men, while the latter growled in return and performed their work in a
sulky way.

Harry was afraid that poor Mr and Mrs Hart would be neglected, and,
waiting till the captain was quiet, humbly asked leave to be allowed to
go down and pay them a visit.

"What do you want with them?" asked the captain.

"They are my friends," said Harry, "and I wish to see if they require
anything."

"If you go below you shall wait upon them and on me too, youngster. My
cabin-boy fell overboard the other day, and I want another."

"While I remain on board I will do as you wish," answered Harry, glad to
have the means of being of service to his friends.

He found them in a small cabin--poor Mrs Hart still very weak and ill,
and Mr Hart seated by her side, though much requiring rest himself.

One of the men who had taken in the captain's breakfast had brought them
some, but they had received no other attention, while they had heard the
captain abusing missionaries as a useless, idle set who never did any
good.

Harry set about the duty he had undertaken with alacrity, though for
some days he had great difficulty in moving about. He said nothing when
the captain abused him as an idle young dog, but did his best to do as
he was required. He spread the table as he had seen it arranged on
board the _Steadfast_, and tried to keep the cabin in good order. He
was constant in his attendance on Mr and Mrs Hart, though he had often
a difficulty in obtaining proper food for them from the cook.

Dickey was anxious to assist him, and proposed to ask the captain's
leave.

"I am sure he would not grant it," said Harry; "he would only say that
one boy is more than enough, and that we should be playing tricks
together."

Harry could not help acknowledging that he had an uncomfortable life of
it; but he willingly bore all the captain's abuse for the sake of his
frien