Mark, what have you been doing, sir?
rubbing your powdery hands all over your face ?" "I suppose so, major.

What time is it ?" "Time the ship was cleared, my lad, but I suppose we must wait.

Let me see," he continued, referring to his watch.

"I didn't like to look before; it makes a man impatient for his breakfast, I'm seven o'clock.
That's three bells, isn't it ?" "I think so," said Mark.
"Think, and you the son of a captain in the merchant service! Why, I should have thought you would have been born a sailor." "Have you heard the Malays, sir ?" "Heard them! Yes, my lad, going about the ship with their bare feet on the planks; but they haven't tried the door.

There, rouse up the men while I wake Gregory." He touched the first-mate, who sprang up, revolver in hand, wide-awake, and ready for instant action.
He glanced sharply round, realised that all was right, and stuck the revolver in his belt.
"How's the skipper ?" he asked.
"My father seems worn out and ill," said Mark sadly.
"Make him lie down," muttered the mate; and he strode across to the captain's cabin, but came back shaking his head, and went to the cabin-window, where he leaned out and was trying to see whether the boat was all right when a faint noise overhead made him instinctively draw in his head.
It was a narrow escape, for as the mate drew back there was a dark line seen to dart across the cabin-window and return.
"Well, I'm not a spiteful man," said the mate, rubbing his ear, "but I should certainly like to give that fellow a pill that would lay him up for six months.