“I was a passenger, although I did duty as a midshipman.”
“Why, the captain described you as a ship’s boy,” observed the doctor.
“Arrah, shure, he’d not the captain at all, at all,” exclaimed Mike, lifting up his head; “he was first mate until the raal capt’n died. But maybe he didn’t say how the ship came to be cast away.”
The doctor made no reply to the Irishman’s remark. “I must see about this,” he said to himself.
Owen and his companions remained in their hammocks for a couple of days, when they all declared themselves strong enough to get up. A large tub was brought them to wash in, and they were supplied by the purser with a seaman’s suit apiece. Owen was thankful to put on clean clothing, as the garments he had on when wrecked were worn completely into rags. Thus habited, although in the dress of a common seaman, he certainly did not look like an ordinary ship’s boy. Still, he was allowed to remain forward with his two companions. As yet they had seen nothing of Mr Scoones, who was, they understood, occupying one of the officers’ cabins aft.
Owen found that they were on board the “Sylvia,” a thirty-six gun frigate, commanded by Captain Stanhope, on her way to Batavia. He had reason to suspect that the sand-bank on which they had been wrecked was further to the westward than Mr Scoones had supposed, and that had they not been picked up they would have perished long before reaching Java.
Having now sufficiently recovered to do duty, they were placed in a watch under the command of the second lieutenant, Mr Leigh. Owen concluded that this was as it should be. It did not occur to him that it would be of any use to explain who he was, and to endeavour to obtain a better position on board. He thought it but natural that he should be expected to work, and he was ready to do duty in any station in which he was placed. He supposed that his friend the doctor had forgotten him, or had not thought fit to carry out his intentions. Owen, who had been accustomed to go aloft while on board the “Druid,” soon attracted the attention of Lieutenant Leigh by the activity and diligence with which he performed all his duties. The lieutenant at length spoke to him.
“If you go on as you have begun, you will become a smart seaman,” he said, in a kind tone.
“Thank you, sir,” answered Owen, touching his hat; “I will do my best.”
“What is your name?” asked the lieutenant.