"That's meant for me, I suppose," said the doctor, laughing. "Never mind, Oakum, we shall not quarrel. I think you'll like Oakum, Mr Studwick." "Thank you," said the young man, sharply, "but I only take your medical advice, Mr Meldon. Come, Bessy, it's chilly here." "But the sun is getting warmer every moment, John," said his sister, gently. "I think you will be all the better for staying on deck." "I'm sure you will," said the doctor, smiling, and passing on. "I'm sure I shall not," exclaimed the invalid, pettishly, while his eyes looked jealously and brightly at the young doctor. "Take me below, Bessy. There--I can walk; come along. Mr Oakum is right--men's tongues do go too freely here." Bessy looked at him sadly, and then smiling pleasantly as he raised his eyes, walked with him to the cabin door. "I hope you will not take any notice of my son's sharp remarks, doctor," said Captain Studwick, overtaking the two young men, for he had heard what had passed. "Not I, indeed, captain," said the doctor, frankly. "I think I understand what it means, and I should be a poor student of human nature if I visited his petulance upon him. We shall be the best of friends before long, I'll be bound." "I hope so, I'm sure," said the captain, gloomily, "for it's quite possible that we may need to hold well together before our trip is over." "Do you anticipate any danger, captain?" said Wilson, turning pale. The captain hesitated, and then said-- "Voyages are always dangerous--that's all." "He means more than he says," thought the doctor; and he followed the captain with his eyes as he went forward, stopped, and spoke a few words to Hester and Mr Parkley, who were still sitting together, and then joined Dutch, who was, according to his wont, gazing over the bulwark far out to sea. "Pugh," he said, holding out his cigar-case, for several of the men were standing about, and he thought it better not to seem to be making a communication, "I've got something on my mind, and of all the men on board you are the one I have chosen to make my confidant." Dutch's eyes brightened, and he turned to the captain eagerly. "What can I do?" he asked. "Nothing--only listen. Perhaps this is only a mare's nest; but I've had so much to do with men, that I am rather a keen observer." "Is there any danger--anything wrong?" exclaimed Dutch, glancing involuntarily towards his wife. "Danger or no danger," replied the captain, "life is very uncertain, and if you will excuse me for saying it, I don't think you would like to die, or see her die,"--he nodded in the direction of the spot where Hester was sitting--"without clasping hands once more." STORY ONE, CHAPTER FOURTEEN. A MAN OVERBOARD. Dutch turned pale as ashes, and closed his eyes for a few moments; then turning an angry look upon the captain, he exclaimed-- "You have no right to intrude in this way upon my private feelings, Captain Studwick."