His sole friend was his batman, Harry Hobbs, but, of course, he could not confide to Harry the misery of his body, or the deeper misery of his soul.
It was Harry, however, that brought relief, for it was he that called the M.O.to his officer's bedside.

The M.O.was shocked to find the chaplain in a state of extreme physical weakness, and mental depression.
At once, he gave orders that Barry should be removed to his own stateroom, which was large and airy and open to the sea breezes.

The effect was immediately apparent, for the change of room, and more especially the touch of human sympathy, did much to restore Barry to his normal health and spirits.

A friendship sprang up between the M.O.
and the chaplain.

With this friendship a new interest came into Barry's life, and with surprising rapidity he regained both his physical and mental tone.
The doctor took him resolutely in hand, pressed him to take his part in the daily physical drill, induced him to share the daily programme of sports, and, best of all, discovering a violin on board, insisted on his taking a place on the musical programme rendered nightly in the salon.
As might be expected, his violin won him friends among all of the music lovers on board ship, and life for Barry began once more to be bearable.
Returning strength, however, recalled him to the performance of his duties as chaplain, and straightway in the exercise of what he considered his duty, he came into conflict with no less a personage than the sergeant major himself.