Charles Rex

he did look at Saltash somewhat harder than usual when the latter informed him in his breezy fashion of the unexpe

thered with him," he sai

im sleep in t

eep him under my own eye. The little beggar has had a pretty rough time o

ng to make of him

an show you the finished article. I'm keeping him below for the present. He's got a prize-fig

r. I'm not over-keen on sudden importations. You

er inoculate the whole crew at once! He's m

ested Larpent, with th

t's have a look at

areless air. He was usually in high sp

s not from the valet's cabin that the cheery sounds proceeded. The

eye was badly swollen and discoloured, he looked wretchedly ill, but he manage

I tell you to lie still? Here he is, Larpent! What

s name?" s

ir," supplied t

er the sun he can't do e

"and obey

I'm sorry, sir. Only wa

k to bed if

say, Captain?

sooner the better," he said after a brief examination.

y, aghast, and then clapped a h

r under his hand. "All right. We'll see how you get on. If we mee

what woefully, a

tuff to dress it with. Better have i

by valiantly. "Don

asp of pain when Larpent une

child!" said S

faint, sardonic smi

against the hand that held him. "Don't make me go t

that cabin of yours," he conceded. "You can lie on the couch in my stateroom if y

a porthole, and the fresh sea-air blew straight in. He stretched his meagre person upon it with a sigh of content

y, s

r Toby Wright?

n very white, opened his mouth to spe

ness. The smile still played about his ugly features as he chose a cig

nothing?"

though the effort to raise t

ord," he said faintly. "

by for some seconds in silence, idly tapping the cigarette he h

ith their dumb pleading were

them. "All right. Don't hurt yourself!" he said kindly.

ist. "Wish I could, sir," he whispered with lips that

fere. Don't expect too much of me; that's all I ask! I'm not con

is cigarette. Toby turned his face

d been saying to make the boy's eyes wet with t

here?" he asked, as he bound a lot

," said Saltash.

ne was absolutely noncommittal.

" said Saltash

in for a blow before we rea

" said Saltash w

ed grim and

ed Saltash of Tob

t the thought.

any chance?" que

sir." Quite undaun

p!" commanded Saltash, and spread a

nks and relaxed with

ad arrived in earnest and the yacht was pitching on a wild se

desperately smiling, who sprang from his cou

barely preventing himself fr

. Then he poured out a dose of brandy and water and, holding the boy's hea

mmanded. "Don't stir an ey

lose and stuffy. Toby put forth an appealin

, sir?" he murmured an

said S

rs fastened like a bird's claw o

ghtened!" s

o, sir!" he

s know." Saltash's voice held an odd note of comradeshi

f the couch and thrust an arm out to him. Toby crept to h

e sweating with terror, have you? There's nothing

sir," whispered T

mforting closeness. "You miserable lit

hank you, sir,"

for once and say it hu

lt

was s

'm going to do with

Toby stirre

blow against the woodwork behind him. "I'm going to put you to bed in my bunk here," he said. "

our bunk, sir,-please, sir-indeed, sir!" Toby, still hel

ways," he said, with royal finality. "You've put yourself in my

," said T

forget it!"

ut from that moment he was as submissive as if he had been indeed the small captive animal to which his new owner had likened him. At Saltash's behest and with his he

he returned to where Saltash leaned smokin

of grimness. He bent without words and

n in a berth as luxurious as an

about him as Saltash tucked him in. He tried to murmu

u little ass!" c

oundings, unaware of the man who came in and out watching that unchanging repose, sublimely obliviou

th a jerk as the roll of the vessel threatened to pitch him on to the floor of the cabin. It was not a comfortable

o him slept in his bunk all through the long