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He had, however, to rub his eyes several times before he could make them out, even with his messmate's help. "It's not from father at all," he observed, after looking at the paper all over. "S. Fletcher must be my biggest brother, and he always gave me more kicks than ha'pence." The letter began:
"Yes, ar'n't I?" said the big sailor, taking his messmate's remark as a compliment; and settling himself tailor-fashion upon the ground, he waited until the reconnaissance was over. For Hilary was scanning the front of the old house most carefully. There was the room in which he had been imprisoned, with the window still open, and the thin white cord swinging gently in the air.
Trundle caught the words just as he was going up the fore-ladder, and though he could not just then take his pipe from his mouth to utter a retort, he gave a fierce look with one of his ferrety eyes, which showed that he acknowledged himself deeply in his messmate's debt. His pipe sounded more shrill than usual, as he could not give any other vent to his feelings.
There was a low derisive laugh plainly heard, and then in a mocking tone Jarette said "Why don't you answer the good kind captain, Lieutenant Walters?" I started at this, and my lips parted to give utterance to the ejaculation, "Oh!" as I felt I was grasping the reason of my messmate's conduct. Could it be ambition? "What! you're too modest? All right, dear boy, I'll answer for you.
"Can I help you, Walters?" said Miss Denning, suddenly appearing at the door-way; and as I looked at her bright gentle face, with my wretched messmate's words still ringing in my ears, I could not help thinking that there must be hope even for such a cowardly traitor as he had proved, when she was here ready to help him and forgive all the past.
At length Langton awoke. No sooner did he cast his eyes on Ashurst than he gave a look at Owen and whispered, "He is going." He took his messmate's hand, who returned the pressure he gave, but gradually the fingers relaxed. Langton and Owen bent over him; ere another minute had passed he was dead. "Poor fellow!" said Langton. "Although he was no favourite of mine, I am truly sorry."
"I am sure I hope so," said Adair, who did not quite understand the thoughts which were pressing through his messmate's head. "We will fight away as long as we have hands to fight with and an ounce of gunpowder for our muskets. It was a craft like that brigantine out there captured poor Hanbury, and murdered him and his boat's crew.
Depend on't, Bill, the less company one keeps with them sort of gentry the better." "Very true, Jem, but suppose a chap out of that boat then does come on board, what's to happen think ye?" asked Bill, in a tone which showed that he in no way doubted his messmate's account.
Tom Stokes, who had suffered most, and was not naturally so strong, took a week before he came round. As soon as we appeared on deck, the captain called us aft, and desired to know our adventures. Andrew was the spokesman, and the captain expressed himself much pleased with our messmate's mode of narrating them.
"Have him out, or they'll hear on deck." No one answered, and I moved forward and tried to help by clasping Bob round the waist. "Ahoy! Ahoy! Haul away hoy!" All in quite a smothered whisper, and then there was another moan. "Now again. All together." I joined in and dragged with all my might, but our efforts were in vain, Barney paused to get a fresh messmate's legs.
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