Part 11 (1/2)
”Oh yes, though I never tasted it. Andy makes one for the lads whenever he gets a chance.”
”Do they eat it?”
”Oh yes, and laugh at him all the time. I dare say it's very good, but I never felt disposed to try. But he's a good fellow, is Andy, and as fine a sailor as ever stepped. You'll get to like him by and by.”
”Get to like him?” said Fitz, pulling himself up short and stiff.
”Humph! I dunno so much about that, young fellow. Look here, how long do you expect it's going to be before I am set aboard some s.h.i.+p?”
”Ah, that's more than anybody can say,” replied Poole quietly.
Fitz was silent for a few moments, and then said sharply--
”What's the name of the port for which you are making sail?”
”Name of the port?” said Poole.
”Yes; you heard what I said, and I want to know.”
”Yes; it's only natural that you would,” said Poole. ”I say, shall I get the tackle now?”
”No; I want an answer to my question,” replied Fitz, firing up again.
”Well, I can't tell you. That's my father's business. We are sailing under what you would call sealed orders on board a Queen's s.h.i.+p.”
”That's shuffling,” cried Fitz angrily, with the black clouds coming over the little bit of suns.h.i.+ne that lit up his face after his soup.
”Now, sir, I order you to tell me, an officer in the Queen's service, where this schooner is bound.”
Poole was silent. ”Do you hear me, sir?”
”Oh yes, I hear,” said Poole, ”but I am in a state of mutiny, and I'm going to ask old b.u.t.ters to lend me his long line and hooks.”
He moved towards the door as he spoke, but Fitz shouted to him to stop.
It was all in vain, for the lad closed the door and shut in the mids.h.i.+pman's angry face.
”Gone!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Fitz. ”He's too much for me now; but only just wait till I get well and strong!”
CHAPTER TEN.
WHAT FITZ WANTED.
”What do you think of this for weather?” said Poole, one morning.
”Isn't it worth sailing right away to get into such seas as this?”
”Yes,” said Fitz dreamily, as he lay on one side in his berth with his hand under his cheek, gazing through the cabin-window at the beautiful glancing water; ”it is very lovely.”
”Doesn't it make you feel as if you were getting quite well?”