"To be sure you are, my lad, but that will soon go off now. You've got nothing to do but to lie here and eat and drink and sleep, till you come square again. My boy Poole here will look after you, and to-morrow or next day we will carry you up on deck and let you lie in a cane-chair. You will be able to read soon, and play draughts or chess, and have a fine time of it." "Thank you; I am very much obliged," said the young midshipman warmly. "I want to get well again, and I will try not to think, but there is one thing I should like to ask." "Well. So long as it isn't questions, go on, my lad." "I want you to write a letter home, it doesn't matter how short it is, about my having been ill--so long as you tell my mother that I am getting better from my attack. Your son said when I asked him, that I got it on the head, and I am afraid my mother would not understand that, so you had better say what fever it was, for I am sure she'd like to know. What fever was it, Captain? You might tell me that!" "Eh, what--what fever?" said the skipper. "Ah, ah," and he gave a peculiar cock of his eye towards his son, "brain-fever, my lad, brain-fever. It made you a bit delirious. But that's all over now." "And you will write, sir? I'll give you the address." "Write?" said the captain. "Why not wait till you get into port? You will be able then to write yourself." "Oh, but I can't wait for that, sir. If you would kindly write the letter and send it ashore by one of the men in your boat, it will be so much better." "All right, my lad. I'll see to it. But there, now. You've talked too much. Not another word. I am your doctor, and my orders are that you now shut your eyes and go to sleep." As he spoke the skipper made a sign to his son, and they both left the cabin, the latter bearing the empty cup. CHAPTER FIVE. AGHAST. As the cabin-door closed Fitz lay back, trying to think about his position, but he felt too comfortable to trouble much. There had been something so soft and comforting about that tea, which had relieved the parched sensation in his throat and lips. Then the skipper and his son had been so kind and attentive. It was so satisfactory too about getting that letter off, and then that evening glow rapidly changing into a velvety gloom with great stars coming out, was so lovely that he felt that he had never seen anything so exquisite before. "There, I won't think and worry," he said to himself, and a minute later he had fallen into a sleep which proved so long and restful, that the sun had been long up before he unclosed his eyes again to find his younger attendant once more netting. "Morning," said the lad cheerily. "You have had a long nap, and no mistake." "Why, I haven't been asleep since sunset, have I?" "You have, and it seems to have done you a lot of good. You can eat a good breakfast now, can't you?" "Yes, and get up first and have a good wash. I long for it."