"As soon as he's gone," continued Poole, "I am going to bring the lines and some bait. Old Butters said you could have them as much as you liked. Don't turn gruff again this time and say you don't want to try." Fitz appeared to take no notice, and Poole went on-- "There are shoals of bonito about, and the Camel can dress them fine. You don't know how good they are, freshly caught and fried." Fitz made an impatient gesture. "How soon is your father coming below?" he said. "Oh, he may be down any moment. He and Mr Burgess are taking observations overhead and calculating our course." "Then he won't be very long," said Fitz. "Oh no. Want to speak to him?" "Yes, particularly." Poole gave the speaker a sharp look, which evidently meant, I wonder what he wants to say. At that moment the boys' eyes met, and Fitz said, as if to evade a question-- "Don't you learn navigation--take observations, and that sort of thing?" "Oh yes, lots of it; but I have been having a holiday since you've been on board. So have you. It must be quite a change after your busy life on board a gunboat, drilling and signalling, and all that sort of thing." Fitz was hearing him speak, but listening intently all the time, so that he gave an eager start and exclaimed-- "Here's your father coming now." For steps were plainly heard on the companion-ladder, and the next minute the door was thrust open, and the bluff-looking skipper entered the cabin. "Morning, sir," he cried. "How are we this morning? Oh, it doesn't want any telling. You are getting on grandly. Did Poole tell you I wanted you to come up on deck this afternoon?" "Yes, sir; thank you. I feel a deal better now, only my legs are very weak when I try to stand up holding on by my berth." "Yes, I suppose so," said the skipper, sitting down by the boy's head and watching him keenly. "You are weak, of course, but it's more imaginary than real. Any one who lays up for a week or two would feel weak when he got out of bed." "But my head swims so, sir." "Exactly. That's only another sign. You are eating well now, and getting quite yourself. But I am going to prescribe you another dose." "Physic?" said Fitz, with a look of disgust. "Yes, fresh air physic. I want you to take it very coolly for the next few days, but to keep on deck always except in the hottest times. In another week you won't know yourself." "Hah!" ejaculated the boy. "Then now, sir--don't think me ungrateful, for nobody could be kinder to me than you and Poole here have shown yourselves since I have been aboard." "Thank you, my lad, for both of us," said the skipper, smiling good-humouredly. "I am glad you give such ruffians as we are so good a character. But you were going to say something." "Yes, sir," said the boy excitedly, and he cleared his voice, which had grown husky. "Go on, then. You are beating about the bush as if you had some favour to ask. What is it?"