THE SICK OFFICER IN THE STATEROOM Captain Battleton spoke to Christy as though he had met him before, and needed no introduction.

He was glad to see that the young officer was better, which indicated that he had been sick.

He was confounded by the situation, for he had not been sick an hour, and he had never seen the commander of the Vernon in his life.

The petty officer had told him that he appeared to be quite sick when he came on board the night before.
What he had learned within the last few moments was even more perplexing than the mysterious visitation at Bonnydale.

Then the appearance of Walsh on board, and his denial of his identity, were still in his mind, and he wondered whether or not all these strange circumstances had any connection.