"Well, I don't know. I meant for him to come up this afternoon, but I thought that it was all over after that upset. How does he seem now?" "Just as if he were going to make the best of it, father." "Then bring him up." A minute later the tackle and bait were lying on the deck beside the chair, and Poole hurried down to the cabin to help his patient finish dressing, which task was barely completed when there was a tap at the door and the Camel appeared, bearing his morning "dose," as he termed it. This was treated as a hindrance, but proved to be a valuable fillip after what the boy had gone through, and the preparation for that which was to come, so that, with the exception of once feeling a little faint, Fitz managed to reach the deck, leaning heavily upon his companion; but not unnoticed, for the mate caught sight of him from where he was on the look-out forward, and hurried up to take the other arm. "Morning, Mr Burnett," he said eagerly. "Come, this is fine! Coming to sit in the air a bit? Oh, we shall soon have you all right now." The boy flushed and looked pleased at the kindly way in which he was received, and as he reached the chair there was another welcome for him from the hand at the wheel, who had the look of an old man-of-war's man, and gave him the regular salute due to an officer. "Feel all right?" said the mate. "Yes, much better than I thought." "Fishing, eh?" said the mate. "Well, good luck to you! Come, we shan't look upon you as an invalid now." "Lie back in the chair a bit," said Poole, who was watching his companion anxiously. "What for?" "I thought perhaps you might feel a little faint." "Oh no, that's all gone off," cried the boy, drawing a deep long breath, as he eagerly looked round the deck and up at the rigging of the smart schooner, whose raking taper masts and white canvas gave her quite the look of a yacht. There was a look of wonder in the boy's eyes as he noted the trimness and perfection of all round, as well as the smartness of the crew, whose aspect suggested the truth, namely, that they had had their training on board some man-of-war. From craft and crew the boy's eyes wandered round over the sea, sweeping the horizon, as he revelled in the soft pure air and the glorious light. "How beautiful it seems," he said, half aloud, "after being shut up so long below." "Come, that's a good sign," said Poole cheerily. "What's a good sign?" was the sharp reply. "That you can enjoy the fresh air so much. It shows that you must be better. Think you can hold the line if I get one ready?" "Of course," said Fitz, rather contemptuously. "All right, then."