Middy and Ensign Part 34

"That I should have leave to-morrow, sir."

"Where are you going, then?"

"Please, sir, I _was_ going shooting."

"Oh!" said his captain, laughing; "then that's what you call important, eh? Well, I don't know what to say. Have there been any complaints against you lately?"

"Two or three, sir," said Bob; "but I have been trying very hard, sir,"

he added earnestly, "to do my duty."

"Humph!" said the captain. "Well, I was a youngster myself once. I suppose you'd be very much disappointed if I said _no_?"

"Yes, sir; very much."

"Humph! Who's going with you?"

"Ensign Long, sir, if he can get leave."

"Well, Roberts, you can go; but be careful with your guns. And look here, don't do anything to annoy the Malays. Don't go near their religious places, or get trespa.s.sing."

"No, sir, I'll be very careful."

"Any one else going?"

"Ali Latee, sir, the Tumongong's son."

"Very well. Be off!"

"Yes, sir, thank you, sir," cried Bob joyously, and he hurried away.

Ensign Long felt perfectly sure that if he went direct to the major, and asked for leave to go ash.o.r.e shooting, it would be refused. He would have gone and asked Captain Smithers to intercede for him, but the captain was always short, and ready to be annoyed at nearly everything said; so he concluded that Bob Roberts' idea was the best, and he went straight to Doctor Bolter, who was in his room, in his shirt and trousers, both his sleeves rolled up, busily pinning out some gorgeous b.u.t.terflies that he had secured.

"Ah, Long!" he said, as the youth entered; "how are you? just hand me that sheet of cork."

"Quite well, sir, thank you."

"Oh! are you? I'll look at your tongue directly. Hand me one of those long thin pins."

The pin was handed.

"Now put a finger on that piece of card. Gently, my dear boy, gently; the down upon these things is so exquisitely fine, that the least touch spoils them. Look at that Atlas moth by your elbow. Isn't it lovely?"

"Magnificent, sir," said Long, taking up a shallow tray, and really admiring the monstrous moth pinned out therein.

"Ah, my lad! I wish I could see you turning a little attention to natural history, now we are in this perfect paradise for a collector.

How much better for you than lounging about all day under the trees.

Now then, put out your tongue."

"But I'm quite well, Doctor Bolter."

"Put--out--your--tongue--sir. Confound it all, sir, I've no time to waste!"

As he spoke he took up the lamp, and held it close to Tom Long's face, so that the light might fall upon the protruded organ.

"Hah!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Doctor Bolter, resuming his seat.

"But I really am quite well, sir," remonstrated Tom Long.

"Don't tell me, sir, that you are quite well. Do you think I don't know when a man's well, and when he is not? You are just a little wee bit feverish."

He felt the youth's pulse, and nodded his head sagely.

"Too much idleness and good living is what is the matter with you, sir.

Why don't you collect?"

"How can I, sir," said Tom, "when I'm shut up in this island?"

"Go ash.o.r.e. Here, I'll give you some collecting boxes, and lend you a vasculum and a net. Go and get me some b.u.t.terflies."

"Well, sir, if it's all the same to you," said Tom, taking advantage of the wind blowing in the right direction, "shooting's more in my way.

Suppose I shot you some birds?"

"Better still," said the doctor, enthusiastically. "Nothing I should like better. I want a few trogons, and the blue-billed gaper. Then you might get me the green chatterer, and any new birds you could see."

"Yes, sir."

"And look here, Long; the woods here are the chosen resort of the great argus pheasant. I don't suppose you would be able to come across one, but if you do--"

"Down him," said Tom Long.

"Exactly," said the doctor. "There, my lad, I won't give you any medicine, but prescribe a little short exercise."

"Thank you, sir," said Tom, trying hard to restrain his eagerness.

"Might I have a run to-morrow? I have felt very languid to-day."

"To be sure. I'll see the major, and get leave of absence for you. Be careful, though. Don't overheat yourself; and mind and not get into any sc.r.a.pe with the Malays."

"I'll mind, sir," said Tom.

"That's right. Be very careful not to spoil the plumage of the birds.

You can make a Malay boy carry them tied by the beaks to a stick. Stop a minute; as you are here, you may as well cut up these cards for me in thin strips. I'll go and ask the major the while."

Tom set to work at the cards with a pair of scissors, and the doctor donned his undress coat, went out and returned with the requisite permission.

"By the way, look here, Long; if you'll promise to be very careful, I'll lend you my double gun."

"I'll take the greatest care of it, sir," was the reply.