Page:Barbour--For the freedom from the seas.djvu/303

 to get a bath and a shave, but I'll bet you anything you like he's filled himself with steak and onions and gone to sleep!"

"Speaking of steak and onions," murmured Tip wistfully, "let's eat something else."

"Tell me where you got the decorations, Nep," said Mart, waving the suggestion of food aside and nodding at Nelson's right sleeve. "You don't have to salute me any more, do you? Not that you ever did, though. What's the big idea? You in training to take Sims' place?"

"'E's a bloomin' 'ero, 'e is," explained Tip. "Fought hoff the 'ole German Nivy, 'e did, and got 'it in the 'ead and ain't been the sime since!"

Nelson gave a brief account of the Gyandotte's adventure, aided by Tip, who supplied a deal of interesting but scarcely credible matter, and Mart declared warmly that he had always known "Nep had it in him, by Jupiter!" After which, as Nelson and Mart both refused to eat any more or countenance the opening of further bottles of ginger beer, the trio went out and sought adventures along the water front. But adventures don't happen in Queenstown merely for the seeking, and they finally parted after making an appointment for the next day.

Nelson went back to the ship feeling very happy, 278