“What, do you understand fishing?”
“Me, sir? yes: I used to go up our river when I was a boy. I’ve caught roach and chub many a time, not that they were very big. Do take me, sir.”
Jack hesitated.
“Say you will, sir,” cried the man eagerly. “I can clean the gun after we come back.”
“I don’t like to refuse you, Ned,” said Jack.
“That’s right, sir: keep on don’t liking, and say I may come. You don’t know how useful I’ll be.”
“Very well: come then.”
“Hurray!” whispered the man, “who’d be without a good master? I’ll be back directly, sir.”
He ran below with the gun, laid it in his berth ready for cleaning, and was up again just as the mate and Doctor Instow approached the side.
“Hallo, sir, you coming?” cried the latter.