'Hope things are going all right. For goodness' sake, get Bob and myself ashore—I'm sick of this ship. Get my chum, Hood, ashore, too, if you can.—BILLUMS.'
By a bit of luck he actually was aboard, and sent me back an answer scribbled on the envelope.
'Will do my best—things are humming.—GERALD.'
The coxswain brought it back when the Captain returned, and I'd hardly read it when I was sent for.
'Ha! Hum! Mr. Wilson, I met your brother on board the flagship. He seems to be the head of the revolutionary army, and will—Hum! Ha!—be a very important man in the country if it is successful. He's asked me to let you accompany him in the advance. Ha! Hum! I've no objection. If you want to get killed, you can.'
'Thank you very much, sir,' I answered, though I jolly well wanted to kick him.
'Did he ask for Hood or my cousin, Bob Temple?' I asked, putting in a word for them.
'Ha! Hum! he did, but Mr. Hood is a valuable officer, and Mr. Temple too young. Good-morning!'
He was an irritating chap, if you like, and the amusing part of it was that he thought every one was fearfully impressed with his importance.
And Gerald sent for me too-sent the same little harbour launch which had brought me on board the Hector, after I'd been released from San Sebastian—sent it fussing out from behind the breakwater, and it waited alongside whilst I shifted into plain clothes.