"Won't try any more fishing to-day, will you?" "No. Let's row back now, and come another time with one of the big boats, stronger lines, and a lance." "Oh, then you haven't had enough of it?" said the doctor. "Enough? No. I want to catch some of those fish, and have a try if we cannot kill one of these sharks. My father would like the adventure too, I'm sure." "Well, yes, I'm thinking he would," said the doctor, looking quietly at his young companion as if he were studying him. "What do you say to another try to-morrow? I think I should like to have another turn." "I hope we shall be at the island to-morrow," replied Jack, as the doctor followed the mate back to the stern sheets. "But the first time there is an opportunity." He seated himself on the fore thwart as he spoke, and held out his hands. "Let me have one oar, Lenny," he said. "I want to try and learn to row." "Rather too hot for you, won't it be, sir?" said the man, smiling. "It is hot; but I can leave off if I'm tired," replied Jack. "Here you are then, sir," said the man; "I'm stroke, and you bow, so you take your time from me, and hittings in the back don't count fair." The next minute they were rowing slowly back toward the yacht, with the doctor looking on very silent and thoughtful, as he furtively watched the young oarsman. "Boat ahoy!" came at last from the yacht's deck. "What sport? Caught anything?" Jack answered in the familiar old way in which fishermen do reply to that question. "_No_!" "Tired, Jack?" said his father, as the boat grazed the yacht's side. "A little--not much," replied the lad; and he sprang on deck actively enough, and ready for the dinner which was to follow in due course. "Brayvo! Mr Jack, sir!" said Edward, who had followed him to his cabin. "I never see anything like the way you're going on now. It's grand, that it is." "Look here, Ned," cried the boy, flushing; "do you want to offend me?" "Offend you, sir? Why, of course not. I said it to please you." "Well, it doesn't please me a bit," cried Jack. "I don't like flattery, so don't do it again." "Why, that ain't flattery, sir," cried the man indignantly; "that's plain honest truth, sir, and it was because I felt so proud of you." "Why?" said Jack sharply. "Because of what you used to be a bit ago, sir. Why, a couple of months back I wouldn't have believed it, for you were just like a great--" The man's tongue had run away with him, and he now pulled up short. "Well, like a great what?" said Jack. The man set his teeth hard and compressed his lips now it was too late. "Why don't you speak, sir?" "Beg pardon, Mr Jack, sir," stammered the man. "I know what you were going to say," cried Jack angrily. "You were going to say that I was like a great girl. Now then--the truth. You were going to say that, were you not?" "Well, sir?" "Speak out, or I'll never believe in you again, Ned."