"Arter these chaps had been ill two days, the other fellers began to put
their heads together, being maddened by the smell o' beef-tea an' the
like, an' said they was going to be ill too, and both the invalids got
into a fearful state of excitement.

"'You'll only spoil it for all of us,' ses Harry, 'and you don't know
what to have without the book.'

"'It's all very well doing your work as well as our own,' ses one of the
men. 'It's our turn now. It's time you two got well.'

"'WELL? ses Harry, 'well? Why you silly iggernerant chaps, we shan't
never get well, people with our complaints never do. You ought to know
that.'

"'Well, I shall split, 'ses one of them. "'You do!' ses Harry, 'you do,
an' I'll put a 'ed on you that all the port wine and jellies in the
world wouldn't cure. 'Sides, don't you think the skipper knows what's
the matter with us?'

"'Afore the other chap could reply, the skipper hisself comes down,
accompanied by the fust mate, with a look on his face which made Harry
give the deepest and hollowest cough he'd ever done.

"'What they reely want,' ses the skipper, turning to the mate, 'is
keerful nussing.'

"'I wish you'd let me nuss 'em,' ses the fust mate, 'only ten minutes--
I'd put 'em both on their legs, an' running for their lives into the