The state of Mr Vanslyperken during the remainder of that night was pitiable, but we must leave the reader to suppose, rather than attempt to describe it.

In the morning the corporal came in, and after asking after his superior’s health, informed him that Smallbones had come on board, that the lad said that the robbers had fired a pistol at him, and then knocked him down with the butt end of it, and that he had escaped but with the loss of the bag.

This was a great relief to the mind of Mr Vanslyperken, who had imagined that he had been visited by the ghost of Smallbones during the night:  he expressed himself glad at his return, and a wish to be left alone, upon which the corporal retired.  As soon as Vanslyperken found out that Smallbones was still alive, his desire to kill him returned; although, when he supposed him dead, he would, to escape from his own feelings, have resuscitated him.  One chief idea now whirled in his brain, which was, that the lad must have a charmed life; he had floated out to the Nab buoy and back again, and now he had had a pistol-bullet passed through his skull without injury.  He felt too much fear to attempt anything against him for the future, but his desire to do so was stronger than ever.

Excitement and vexation brought on a slow fever, and Mr Vanslyperken lay for three or four days in bed; at the end of which period he received a message from the admiral, directing him to come or send on shore (for his state had been made known) for his despatches, and to sail as soon as possible.

Upon receiving the message, Mr Vanslyperken recollected his engagement at the house of the Jew Lazarus, and weak as he was, felt too much afraid of the results, should he fail, not to get out of bed and go on shore.  It was with difficulty he could walk so far.  When he arrived he found Ramsay ready to receive him.

“To sail as soon as possible:—­’tis well, sir.  Have you your despatches?”

“I sent to the admiral’s for them,” replied Vanslyperken.

“Well, then, be all ready to start at midnight.  I shall come on board about a quarter of an hour before; you may go, sir.”

Vanslyperken quailed under the keen eye and stern look of Ramsay, and obeyed the uncourteous order in silence; still he thought of revenge as he walked back to the boat and re-embarked in the cutter.

“What’s this, Short?” observed Coble:  “here is a new freak; we start at midnight, I hear.”

“Yes,” replied Short.

“Something quite new, anyhow:—­don’t understand it:  do you?”

“No,” replied Dick.

“Well, now Jemmy’s gone, I don’t care how soon I follow, Dick.”

“Nor I,” replied Short.

“I’ve a notion there’s some mystery in all this.  For,” continued Coble, “the admiral would never have ordered us out till to-morrow morning, if he did not make us sail this evening.  It’s not a man-of-war fashion, is it, Dick?”