A FIVE MONTHS' TRIP 



" Don't look well ? " he asked, rather startled. 

 " Well, to tell you the truth I don't feel quite up to 

 the mark. Can't make it out quite. I don't sleep 

 well." 



" Let me look at your tongue." I held my hands up 

 in assumed horror. " Stomach out of order. Captain, 

 I think. Do you feel a pain in your side at all ? " 



" Well, now I come to think of it," he agreed, " I 

 do feel rather funny just here," and he slapped the side 

 where the liver isn't. 



" You don't think there is a case of anything which 

 has been overlooked in the lazaret ? " I went on. 



" Not a chance." 



" Is there anything in those bottles in the medicine 

 chest from which we could make you up a draught ? " 

 was my further suggestion. 



" I will only trust castor oil out of that chest," he 

 said. " Of course the hands can have what they like." 



We both laughed, for two or three old shell-backs 

 used to come aft every Saturday night for a dose; 

 it is a common practice of that type. The captain 

 would not let them take it for'ard, but made them 

 drink it on the spot. 



" The last bottle is in the chest, isn't it ? " I half 

 whispered, sidling up to him. 



" Yes ; you saw me put it away." 



" I suppose nobody has wanted it since we put 

 it there ? Isn't it a horrible day, Sunday, without a 

 drink ? " I murmured, as if to myself, pretending 

 that it was only a soliloquy and that he was miles 

 away. 



" Beastly." 



" Then why don't we have one ? " I suggested. 



" Oh, but it's the last bottle." 



" I have had a look at the hands," I went on, " and 

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