“What you, Barney!”
“Bo’sun, sir. I wouldn’t interrupt you afore, ’cause I knowed you wouldn’t like it, but the captain wants to see you.”
“What!” cried Sydney, as he clapped his hands to his swollen nose and lips. “Wants to see me?”
“Soon as ever he’s done his braxfass, sir.”
“Oh, what shall I do?” cried Syd.
“Dunno, sir,” said the boatswain, grinning, “unless you sends word you’re sea-sick, for you do look bad.”
“No, no, I can’t do that.”
“Oh, I dunno, sir,” said the boatswain, chuckling. “You was sea-sick months before you joined your ship, so I don’t see why you shouldn’t be now. My Panny-mar’s got it too. Took bad last night.”
“What, has he been fighting?”
“Didn’t ask him, sir; but he can’t see out of his eyes, and when I asked him how he felt, he grinned like all on one side.”