And Raxworthy did. His luck was in. For a little while longer he would be Midshipman Kenneth Raxworthy, R.N.
PART IV
RAXWORTHY’S RUSE
I
“Sorry I was unable to report for duty earlier, sir,” said Midshipman Kenneth Raxworthy apologetically.
“Don’t worry about that,” rejoined Lieutenant-commander Wilverley of H.M. river gunboat Sandgrub. “The admiral wirelessed explaining the delay. No matter; you’re in time. Do you know what for?”
“No, sir.”
“A rough house, Raxworthy; a rough house. Do you tumble to it?”
“A scrap up the Yang-tse, sir?” asked the midshipman eagerly.
“Every jolly old indication of it, my lad! This old hooker has only six weeks to do before her two years’ commission is up. We’re due to pay off on the 25th of next month. During the whole time I’ve been in her we haven’t fired a single round except in the quarterly-gunnery exercises; and now, almost at the last lap comes the chance for Sandgrub to have a look in. You’ve heard nothing, I suppose?”