"Rough, d'ye ca' it," he answered; "if I wasna a guid Presbyterian like me fairther before me, I'd be a convairted sinner the noo. Bradlaugh himsel' wouldna hae denied hell if he'd been below during the last four an' twenty hoors."
The girl nodded sympathetically.
"I want to have a few minutes' chat with you, if you can spare the time," she said.
"I'm at ye'r deesposal."
"Then please come into the chart-room. I don't want to leave the bridge longer than I can help."
"Leave the bridge!" echoed McPhulach in astonishment. "D'ye——"
"Please come at once," interrupted the girl, and led the way up to the bridge. After first ascertaining that Calamity was not there, the engineer followed, wondering, as well he might, what such an extraordinary invitation portended. When they had entered the chart-room the girl shut the door and pointed to a seat.
"Have you heard about the Captain?" she asked.
"Haird what?" inquired McPhulach.
"Then you haven't. He is down with a severe attack of malaria; and is quite incapable of doing anything."