"Oh no, sir. He was going up to speak to Miss Denning and her brother, and the ship lurched, and he came down sitting." "Oh!" said the doctor, and it struck me at the time that he looked rather pleased. CHAPTER SIX. The next morning broke bright and glorious. We were right away in the open sea now, going south before a brisk north-west breeze, which was just enough to make the water dance and glitter in the sunshine, as the Burgh Castle with a full press of sail careened gently over. While feeling fresh and eager, I thought how delightful the ocean looked, and was eager to see what the tropic waters would have to show. "Here, Dale," said the captain, "this sort of thing won't do. Where's your messmate--Walters?" "He's a little better this morning, sir, but not out of his bunk." "You go down and tell him that if he is not up on deck in a quarter of an hour, I'll send two of the men down to fetch him." "Yes, sir," and I went and delivered my message to the poor, miserable-looking, yellow-faced fellow, as he lay with his face screwed up, only half seen in his bunk. "I don't care. Let him send if he dares. I can't get up. I'll complain to the owners. It's a cruel shame, and it's a wonder I haven't died, left neglected down here." "That you haven't been," I cried; "why, I've regularly nursed you, and the steward couldn't have been kinder." "Who said he could?" cried Walters, with plenty of animation now. "But where's the doctor? What's a doctor carried on a ship for if he isn't to attend to the sick people?" "Oh, but you're not sick," I said. "What?" he cried fiercely. "Well, not now," I replied, laughing. "Of course you were, but you're only qualmy now. Here, this place does smell stuffy. I'll open the window." "That you won't; I don't want to catch a bad cold. Wish I hadn't come to sea in such a miserable ship." "Nonsense. Get up and dress." "Shan't!" "But you'd feel ever so much better." "How do you know? You go and tell the captain he's a brute, and I'm not going to get up till I'm better." "Not I. It would only be a lie," I said. "What?" "You are ever so much better. Shall I ask the steward to make you some tea?" "No, I couldn't touch it, and he wouldn't make it if you did. This ain't a London hotel." "Of course it isn't; but he'd make a cup if I asked him." "No, he wouldn't. They're all brutes here." "Look here," I cried, as I saw how argumentative he could be, and that if he roused himself up he'd be better, "if you don't jump into your trousers I'll be a brute too." "What do you mean?" he said, sharply. "I'll lay hold of one leg, and pull you out on to the floor." "You dare to touch me, and I'll give you the biggest hiding you ever had in your life." "Not you. Come, get up, or the skipper will send down two fellows to fetch you out." "Let him at his peril," snarled my messmate, pulling the clothes higher. "Shall I go and tell him that?" "If you dare."