Part 82 (1/2)

”What have you got to say about the leakage, Mr Burnett, sir?”

whispered the carpenter after the cable task was ended, and the fans of the propeller showed clearly in the water just below the surface, and had been set whirling round in both directions to churn up the water, and prove that the shaft had not been wrenched or dragged from its bearings.

”Nothing at present, Chips,” replied the middy.

”Because I'd take it kindly, sir, if you'd drop a fellow a hint or two.

This is a big job, sir, and means my making or my breaking, sir.”

”But you shouldn't ask me, my man,” replied the middy. ”You are old and experienced, while I'm only a boy.”

”Yes, sir, I knows that,” said the man; ”but you're come out of a gunboat, sir, and you've got your head screwed on the right way, sir. I never see a young gent with such a head as yours, nor yet one as was screwed on so tight.”

”Oh, nonsense, Chips,” cried the boy, flus.h.i.+ng. ”It's your job, not mine.”

”Nay, sir, it aren't nonsense, it's sound sense. I like a bit of the first as well as any man when larking helps to make hard work go easy.

Often enough a bit o' fun acts like ile to a hard job, but it won't ile this one. And as I said afore, sir, I'd take it kindly if you'd put in a word now and then over the rest o' the job same as you did over the cable.”

”But you ought to consult with Mr Burgess or the captain, my man,” said Fitz, uneasily.

”Nay, I oughtn't, sir. I'd a deal rayther have a word or two from you when you see things going wrong.”

”Why?” said Fitz quickly.

”I've telled you, sir. Doesn't all you say come right? I've kinder got a sort o' confidence in you, Mr Burnett, sir, as makes me feel as if I should like to be under you in some s.h.i.+p or another, and I aren't the on'y one aboard as feels that, I'm sure.”

”Well, it's very kind of you to put so much faith in me,” said the middy; ”but don't say any more, please, and don't believe in me too much for fear I should make some horrible blunder, and disappoint you after all.”

”Ah, you won't do that, sir,” said the carpenter confidently.

”Of course I shall be only too glad to help you if I can, for I should be very glad to see you float the vessel.”

”And you will keep an eye on what I do, sir, and put in a word if you think I'm going wrong?”

”If you wish it, yes,” replied Fitz.

”Thanky, sir,” whispered the man earnestly. ”It may be the making of me, sir, and anyhow, as I have took up this job, I don't want these Spaniel chaps to see an Englishman fail.”

”They shall not, Chips, if I can help it,” cried Fitz, warmly. ”There now, let's see whether the donkey-engine is able to keep the water down, or whether she's lower in the water than she was.”

”There, sir,” whispered the man, ”hark at you! Call yourself a boy! why you couldn't ha' spoken better if you'd been a hold man of a 'undered.

You made me want to give you a shout, only I had to keep quiet, and let the Spaniels think I'm doing it all to rights. I don't mind about our lads. They all know me, and what I can do and what I can't. I don't want to try anything and chuck dust in their eyes--not me; but I do want to show off a bit and let these Spanish Mullotter chaps see what an Englishman can do, for the sake of the old country and the British flag.”

”Then let's go below, Chips,” said Fitz, ”and see what the pumping has done.”

Poole, who had been aft with the mate during this conversation, rejoined them now, and together they went below to sound the well.

”Good luck to us, gentlemen,” said the carpenter, rubbing his hands.