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He turned away and found himself face to face with Tom Fillot, who looked at him with a preternaturally solemn aspect. "Find it a bit strong, sir?" "What?" cried Bob, haughtily. "I said find it a bit strong, sir? I did at first when I went down; but, bless your 'art, sir, after the first few sniffs you don't mind it a bit, you rather likes it." "Then you'd better go down, sir," said Bob, sharply.
"Beg pardon, sir," said Tom Fillot, suddenly, their companionship in misfortune having in no wise interfered with the sailor's respect for his superior, "like to try a bit o' 'bacco, sir?" Mark shook his head. "O' course not. You ain't used to it and don't want it. Try and go to sleep, sir. I'll keep the watch."
"'Sides, pilfered water ain't good for you." "Feel better this morning, Dance?" said Mark. "Yes, sir, thankye sir. Head aches a deal and feels muzzy like, and I didn't sleep quite as I should like. Too much bad dream to please me." "No wonder, mate," struck in Tom Fillot. "Having your head rubbed so hard with a big bat ain't good for no one."
"Pig o' ballast they chucked over to stave the bottom," growled Dick Bannock, beginning to row. "If I hadn't shoved her off, they'd ha' sunk us." "We'll sink them yet," growled Tom Fillot. "Coming, Mr Van, sir. We'll have you directly.
"Guess yew'd best keep from ahind that theer hatchway, strangers, for I'm out o' practyse, and I'm going to make a target o' that theer door." "Stand down, Tom," said Mark. "Oh, I ain't feared, sir, if you like to say keep on," cried Tom Fillot. "I know that, my lad; but I'm not going to run foolish risks."
Stop, my lads; you shall cheer directly. Dance, Fillot, and Bannock stand next for promotion, and I thank them publicly for setting so brave an example with their messmates, of patient self-denial, obedience, and sterling British manly pluck in a good cause."
Tom Fillot fetched a lantern, and two men who had heard the fierce yelling came up to see just as Mark reached the ladder, and was about to descend, when, to his astonishment, Soup came rushing up, and fell heavily upon the deck. "Why, Soup, my lad, have they attacked you?" cried Mark, taking the lantern to hold over the prostrate black. "Hi!
We must keep the men prisoners, and make the best of our way north, to where we can hand them over to the officers of the law." "Very good, sir," said Tom Fillot, "only either o' my ways would be easier." "Do you think Mr Russell would act as you propose?" said Mark, sharply. Tom Fillot screwed up his face, and shook his head. "No, sir. He'd do as you're going to.
"Ah, would yer!" roared Tom Fillot, making one of his rushes in time to upset a couple of the schooner's men, who had seized Mark in spite of his struggles, and were about to throw him over the side.
"And we'll have that schooner back, and set those poor creatures free if I die for it." "That you shall, sir," cried Tom Fillot. "No, no, that you shan't, I mean." "Not take her?" said Mark, half aloud in his surprise. "Hist! No, no, sir. I didn't mean that; I mean not die for it." "Oh, I see."
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