Page:Morley roberts--Blue Peter--sea yarns.djvu/103

Rh "He might rise up now and find his ship missing," said Greig with a chuckle. "After all, that's only what I did, Mr. Plump. I was crazy, luny, dotty, and raving with fever before I was taken out of the Winchelsea and when I came to she was days at sea."

He marched up and down again.

"And a dashed good man got my billet," he said, "and now I don't envy it him. It was a bit of luck my getting this, Mr. Plump, though in a way I own I'm sorry that you couldn't have it. I know that's tough."

Plump sighed.

"I'd ha' had my ticket, sir, but for a fluke that a youngster going up for second mate might have been ashamed of. A plus for a minus, and I was minus. You wouldn't like to step down for Captain Brogger now, sir?"

"Minus Brogger is plus me," said Greig. "I'd not step down to loo'ard for all the Brogger family up from the tomb."

"No more would I, sir," said Plump. "But"

"But what?" asked the 'old man.'

And Plump gasped a bit.

"Last night, sir"