Page:Morley roberts--Blue Peter--sea yarns.djvu/98

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82
THE BLUE PETER

me I was a soldier I should say it was pafettick to 'ear him."

"This is a barque," said poor Juggins, "and so's the Enchantress. But she's at sea, and yesterday she was in Portland not ready to go for three days. This is a dream, it's an awful, awful dream. I'll wake up, I will, I will!"

He hung on the pin desperately, and as he stood there Dodman walked for'ard to the break of the poop. He whistled lightly.

"Dodman used to whistle," said the man in a nightmare. "I used to tell him I wouldn't have it. I said it was a street-boy's habit. I shall wake presently, oh yes."

"Who's that jabbering on the main-deck?" asked Dodman.

"It's me," said the jabberer weakly, as a cloud of laudanum floated over his brain. "It's me, and I don't know who I am."

But Dodman jumped as if he had been shot. This was a voice from the grave; there seemed no mistaking Brogger's wretched pipe. But before the second mate could speak Jack Eales intervened.

"’Tis the new 'and wot come aboard at Astoria, sir. 'Is name is Bill Juggins."