Fiction > Book editions > London, 1886 - Kidnapped

I GO TO SEA IN THE COVENANT OF DYSART.             57
wound as before, while Hoseason looked me in my face
with an odd, black look.
"Now, sir, you see for yourself," said the first: " a
high fever, no appetite, no light, no meat: you see for
yourself what that means."
"I am no conjurer, Mr. Riach," said the captain.
"Give me leave, sir," said Riach; "you've a good
head upon your shoulders, and a good Scotch tongue to
ask with; but I will leave you no manner of excuse :
I want that boy taken out of this hole and put in the
forecastle."
"What ye may want, sir, is a matter of concern to
nobody but yoursel'," returned the captain ; " but I can
tell ye that which is to be. Here he is; here he shall
bide."
"Admitting that you have been paid in a propor-
tion," said the other, "I will crave leave humbly to
say that I have not. Paid I am, and none too much,
to be the second officer of this old tub; and you ken
very well if I do my best to earn it. But I was paid
for nothing more."
"If ye could hold back your hand from the tin-pan,
Mr. Riach, I would have no complaint to make of ye,"
returned the skipper; " and instead of asking riddles, I
make bold to say that ye would keep your breath to
cool your porridge. We'll be required on deck," he
added, in a sharper note, and set one foot upon the
ladder.
But Mr. Riach caught him by the sleeve.