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"The same, sir, at your sarvice," said Teddy, with a respectful pull at his forelock. "They was used to call me Mister O'Donel when I was in the army, but I've guv that up long ago an' dropped the title wid the commission." "Indeed: then you were a commissioned officer?" inquired Jack, with a smile. "Be no manes. It was a slight longer title than that I had.
Poor Teddy O'Donel, unable to stand it any longer, toppled backwards over the bench with a hideous yell, and fell headlong into a mass of pans, kettles, and firewood, where he lay sprawling and roaring at the full power of his lungs, and keeping up an irregular discharge of such things as came to hand at the supposed ghost, who sheltered himself as he best might behind the stove.
After sunset, Jack had his tea alone in the hall, while O'Donel took his also, of course, alone in the kitchen. Tea over, Jack sat down and wrote part of a journal which he was in the habit of posting up irregularly. Then he went into the kitchen to give Teddy his orders for the following day, and stayed longer than usual.
At breakfast there was naturally a good deal of talk among the men, and special mention was of course made of the energy of their master. Breakfast over, Jack assembled the men and apportioned to each his day's work. "I myself," said he, "mean to walk down to the fishery to-day, and I leave O'Donel in charge; I shall be back to-morrow. Rollo, you will prepare to accompany me."
But it was not till night that this depression of spirits culminated. For the first time in his life Jack Robinson became superstitiously nervous. As for Teddy O'Donel, he had seldom been entirely free from this condition during any night of his existence; but he was much worse than usual on the present occasion!
He and Teddy O'Donel rolled to the very feet of the amazed Ladoc, before the force of their fall was expended. They sprang up instantly, and Jack dealt the Irishman an open-handed box on the ear that sent him staggering against one of the pillars of the verandah, and resounded in the still night air like a pistol-shot.
"It's very sad," repeated Jack, "to look abroad upon this lovely world, and know that thousands of our fellow-men are enjoying it in each other's society, while we are self-exiled here." "An' so it is," said Teddy, "not to mintion our fellow-women an' our fellow-childers to boot." "To be sure we have got each other's society, O'Donel," continued Jack, "and the society of the gulls "
Och! but it's lonesome I've been these three days niver a wan here but meself an' the ghosts. Come ashore, darlints, and comfort me!" "Fort Desolation, indeed!" muttered Jack Robinson, as he looked round him sadly; "not a bad name. I'll adopt it. Lower the boat, lads." Thus Jack took possession of his new home. "Your name is Teddy O'Donel?" said Jack.
Leaving him there to the care of O'Donel, who had returned, Jack went up to his bedroom, shut the door, thrust his hands into his pockets, and began to pace the floor rapidly, and to shake his head. Gradually his pace became slower, and the shaking of his head more sedate. Presently he soliloquised in an undertone. "This won't do, John Robinson. You've let off too much steam.
Teddy O'Donel hastened to the kitchen, a small log-hut in rear of the dwelling-house, and left Jack Robinson alone in the "Hall." Jack rose, thrust his hands deep into his pockets, and walked to the window. It was glazed with parchment, with the exception of the centre square, which was of glass. "Pleasant, uncommonly pleasant," he muttered, as he surveyed the landscape.
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