'There! you skulking young hound,' he said as he threw it over me; 'you'd best get out, or the skipper will come and rouse you up himself.' "I staggered on to the floor.

I had made up my mind to sham weak, but I did not need to pretend at first, for having been six weeks in bed, I felt strange and giddy when I got up.

I slipped on my clothes and went out on deck, staggered to the bulwarks and held on.

The fresh air soon set me straight, and I felt that I was pretty strong again.

However, I pretended to be able to scarce stand, and, holding on by the bulwark, made my way aft.
"'You young dog,' the skipper said, 'you've been shamming for the last six weeks.