Jack at Sea Part 19

"Ned, you are torturing me," said Jack; and he turned himself a little to look down at the miserable being on the floor.

"Very sorry, sir, but something's torturing me. Do you think we've got as far as France yet?"

"Oh, I don't know."

"Do you think, if I give master warning, he'd have me set ash.o.r.e at once?"

"No," said Jack, with a touch of exultation in his words; "I'm sure he wouldn't. You'll have to go with us now."

"I couldn't, sir, I couldn't really. Why, I couldn't go round this room--cabin, or whatever you call it. Oh dear! oh dear! to think of me turning all of a sudden like this! It's awful."

"Here, Jack! Jack, lad! Aren't you coming on deck?" cried a voice down through the cabin skylight.

"Oh, there's the doctor," groaned Edward. "Why don't he come down?"

"Jack! are you there? It's splendid. Come up."

"Come down, sir, please," groaned the man.

"Hullo!" said the doctor to himself. "Why surely they're not--Oh! they can't be so soon."

He hurried down the cabin steps, and came breezily into the cabin, to see at a glance the state of affairs.

"Why, Jack, my lad, this is cowardly," he cried.

"Don't, sir, don't," groaned Edward. "I said something like that.

Don't you, sir, or you may be took bad too."

"Why you ought to be able to stand a little sea-going, my man," said the doctor; "this is a break down. Here, make an effort and go to your berth."

"Make an effort, sir? I couldn't do it even if the ship was a-sinking."

"Nonsense!"

"It's true. I'm afraid it's all over, and Sir John will want another man."

"There, jump up and go to your berth. You share the same cabin as the cook and steward, don't you?"

"I was to, sir, and it was a very small place, but there'll be more room for them now."

"Nonsense, I tell you; jump up."

"Jump, sir!" groaned the man; "did you say jump?"

"Well then, crawl. Here, steward!" cried the doctor, "come and help this man to his cabin."

"Can't you give me something to put me out of my misery, sir?" groaned the man.

"Absurd! There, try and get on your legs. I'll help you." For the steward had come in promptly, smiling at the state of affairs, and poor Edward was set upon his legs.

"Come, stand up," said the steward, for Edward's knees gave way like the joints of a weak two-foot rule.

"Yes, stand up," cried the doctor; "don't be so weak, man."

"'Tain't me, sir, it's my legs," said the man faintly. "Don't seem to have no bones now."

"Why, Edward, I thought you were a smart manly fellow," cried the doctor.

"That's just what I always thought of myself, sir, but it wasn't a bit true. Would you mind asking Sir John, sir, to have the yacht stopped and me put ash.o.r.e?"

"Of course I would. It's absurd."

"But I shan't be a bit of use, sir; I shan't indeed. I'm ashamed of myself, but I can't help it."

"There, I know," said the doctor kindly; "get to your berth and lie still for a few hours. You'll be ready to laugh at your weakness before long."

"Laugh, sir? laugh? No, I don't think I shall ever laugh again."

The door swung to after the man's exit, and the doctor returned to Jack's cabin.

"Well," he said, "feel very queer?"

"Can't you see, doctor?" said the boy, giving him a piteous look.

"Yes, of course I can, my lad; but lie still, and you'll soon get over it. Some people do get troubled this way. Haven't you read that Lord Nelson used to have a fit whenever he went to sea?"

Jack made no reply, for he was in that condition which makes a sufferer perfectly indifferent about everything and everybody, and when it is no satisfaction to know that the greatest people in the world suffered in a similar way. All they can think of then is self.

Sir John came down soon after, and sat with his son for awhile, trying to encourage him, but poor Jack hardly answered him, and at last he began to be anxious, and went to join the doctor, who was on deck chatting with the captain.

"I wish you'd go down and see to the boy," he said; "he looks so white, I feel anxious."

The doctor shrugged his shoulders and went below, to come back at the end of five minutes.

"Well?" said Sir John anxiously.

"Usual thing; nothing to fidget about. Your man's worse."

"What, Edward?" cried Sir John, staring. "I saw him forward there chatting with the sailors not long ago."

"Yes, and now he's in his berth talking to himself about what a donkey he was to come. Who knows! perhaps it will be our turn next."

But it was not, although it began to blow hard from the west, and the sea crew rougher as the yacht dashed on.

But the next evening Edward was about again, looking rather pale, but very proud and self-satisfied, as he went to Jack's berth.

"Don't you feel any better yet, sir?" he said.