"Mr Jack, sir; do please tell me to come."
"What, with us? Impossible," said Jack hastily. "You heard my father
say that there was not room for another."
"Yes, sir, of course, not room for another like him, but I'm nobody. I
don't want any room; I can sit down in the bottom, or kneel down. And I
should be so useful, sir. I could cut up bait, or put on hooks, or take
'em off, or anything."
"What, do you understand fishing?"
"Me, sir? yes: I used to go up our river when I was a boy. I've caught
roach and chub many a time, not that they were very big. Do take me,
sir."
Jack hesitated.
"Say you will, sir," cried the man eagerly. "I can clean the gun after
we come back."
"I don't like to refuse you, Ned," said Jack.
"That's right, sir: keep on don't liking, and say I may come. You don't
know how useful I'll be."
"Very well: come then."
"Hurray!" whispered the man, "who'd be without a good master? I'll be
back directly, sir."
He ran below with the gun, laid it in his berth ready for cleaning, and
was up again just as the mate and Doctor Instow approached the side.
"Hallo, sir, you coming?" cried the latter.
"Yes, sir."
"But we don't want you."
Edward's face became puckered with disappointment, and his eyes were
full of misery, as he turned them piteously upon his young master.
"Yes, I want him," said Jack, in response to the appealing look, and the
man's hopes rose.
"What for?" said the doctor, and Edward's aspirations went down to zero.
"I don't know," said Jack coolly; "to unhook the fish. I'm not going to
soil my hands."
"Oh, very well," said the doctor; "I don't mind, but we had better catch
the fish before you take them off the hook. Now then, in with you."
Lenny and the mate stepped down into the boat, Jack and the doctor
followed, and then, looking flushed and excited as a boy, Edward jumped
in, giving, his young master a grateful look as soon as the doctor was
not looking.