CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.
THE CREW HAVE THEIR OWN OPINIONS.
The utter exhaustion produced by the struggle on the mountain slope andthrough the forest died away with Jack in the light of the terribletrouble which had come upon him; and as the afternoon wore on he justpartook of such food as his father brought to him, for he would notleave the wounded man's side; and at last sunset came as they lay abouta couple of miles out softly rocking upon the calm sea. He had heardhow the canoes had been watched till they disappeared below the horizonline, and that all danger from another attack had passed away, but thatseemed nothing in the face of this great trouble.
The night was approaching fast, and Jack shuddered at the thought of thedarkness, and what it would bring; and once more it seemed impossiblethat the strong, active fellow who had been his companion that morningshould be passing away.
If he could only have done something besides kneel there, keeping thepoor fellow's head cool--something that would have helped him in histerrible fight with death--he would not have suffered so much; but to beso completely impotent seemed more than he could bear.
"You will go to bed early, Jack," said his father that evening, when thecabin was almost dark from the lamp being turned low.
"No, father; I am going to stop here, please," he replied.
"I will take your place, my boy. I feel too that we owe a great duty tothe faithful fellow who has served us so long. You are tired out."
"No, father, I don't feel a bit tired now. Don't ask me to leave him.It is so hard with no one who knows him here; and I feel as if he willcome to his senses some time, and would like to speak to me. I neverdid anything for him, but he always seemed to like me."
"Very well, Jack," said Sir John quietly, "I will not press you to go.But you will take necessary refreshment from time to time?"
"I could not touch anything," said the boy with a shudder.
"If you do not you will break down."
"Tell the steward to bring me some tea, then, by and by. You will go tobed?"
"I? No, my boy. I could not sleep."
Jack was left alone with the patient save when every half-hour or so thedoctor and Sir John came down from the deck to minister in some way, andthe long-drawn-out night slowly passed, with poor Ned breathingpainfully, and lying nearly motionless, till a faint light began to comethrough the cabin windows, and the distant cries of birds floated to himover the sea.
Another day was at hand, and the solemnity of the hour seemed appallingto the watcher as he rose and went to the open window. A sense of theterrible loneliness of the sea oppressed him, and, exhausted now, hefelt how helpless he was, how awful and strange was the change fromnight to the coming of another day.
There was not a sound to be heard on deck, though he knew that therewere watchers there too, but not a footfall nor a whisper could beheard.
He stood there looking at the paling stars and the faint streaks of softlight low down in the east, till the black water stretching out to thehorizon grew to be of a dull leaden grey, which gradually became silverywith a peculiar sheen, and then all at once there was the tiny fieryspot high up to the right above where the reef encircled the island,which was too distant now, after the night's steady glide away upon thecurrent, for the breakers to be heard.
"Will he live to see the sun rise once more?" thought the boy, as thesilvery sheen grew brighter on the surface of the sea, and then hestarted, and a great dread came upon him, for he felt that the time hadcome, for a faint voice said--
"Is that you, Mr Jack?"
Jack's first thought was to call the doctor from the deck, but he didnot, he stepped quickly to the couch.
"I thought it was your back, sir. I've been watching you ever so long.I say, hadn't you better have the lamp lit, and let some of 'em carry meto my berth?"
"The lamp lit, Ned?" faltered Jack, with his heart fluttering the while.
"Yes, sir; it'll be quite dark directly."
"Yes," thought the lad, with a pang of misery shooting through him as herealised that after all this man was a friend that he could not affordto lose, "it will be quite dark directly."
"I'd go and fetch one, sir, but I don't feel up to it. I should go downon my nose if I tried to stand; and," he continued, laughing weakly,"smash the glass shade."
"Ned!" cried Jack, catching his hand, which closed upon it tightly.
"Have I been lying here all the afternoon, sir?"
"Yes--yes," sighed Jack, and he tried to withdraw his hand so as to callfor help; but Ned clung to it tightly.
"What a shame! Upsetting everybody, and turning the gentlemen out oftheir place. I say, you can't have had dinner here, sir."
"No, Ned."
"'Shamed of myself. I don't know how time's gone. Been asleep.Dreaming like mad, and--Heigho! ha--hum! Hark at that, sir, for a yawn.Never put my hand before my mouth. I say, what about the niggers?"
"We are far out at sea, Ned," whispered Jack.
"Good job. I don't know though. I hope we shall go and give 'em anawful thrashing. We didn't interfere with them. Coming and shottingtheir arrows at us behind our backs. I say, Mr Jack, don't you get onein you. My word, how it does make you dream--all the awfullest nonsenseyou could imagine. I should like to tell you, but it's all mixed up so.I say, I fainted, didn't I?"
"Yes."
"I remember; up there in the wood. I felt myself going like a greatgal. Just as I did once when I was a boy. How rum! That was throughan arrow. I used to make myself bows and arrows, and I was making adeal arrow, and smoothing it with a bit of glass, when the bit broke andI cut my finger awful, and turned sick, and down I went.--I say, MrJack."
"Yes, Ned," said the lad in a voice full of pity.
"I can't recollect a bit after that. How did you yet me down to theboat?"
"The men carried you."
"One to them. My turn next. Good lads. Then you rowed out to theyacht."
"Yes, Ned."
"Yacht! I wish I could spell yacht when I write a letter home ready forposting first chance. I always get the letters mixed up. But I say,Mr Jack, this won't do! I say, would you mind giving me a bit of apull? I could walk to my berth. This is luxurious, this is. Me on thecabin couch, and you waiting on me. Here, I feel like a rich lord. Nowpull."
"No, no, Ned; lie still."
"I say, don't you get taking on like that, Mr Jack, sir," said the manearnestly. "That is being chicken-'arted. I'm all right. These twoholes in my arm don't burn so; don't burn at all. Feel as if I hadn'tgot no arm that side. But I say, what's the matter?"
"Oh, Ned, my poor fellow!"
"Here, I say, Mr Jack, sir! Don't--don't, please. I say, I have upsetyou; but--Here, what does that mean? am I a bit off my head?"
"No, Ned, you are quite sensible now."
"No, I ain't, sir; I can't be, because things seem to be going backward.'Tain't the moon, is it? because it's getting light instead of dark."
"Yes, Ned, the sun will soon rise."
"What! Don't play--No, you wouldn't do that. Sun rise? Why, I ain'tbeen lying here all night, sir?"
"Yes, Ned."
"Well, my lad, how are you?" said Doctor Instow. "I thought I heard youspeaking."
"Morning, sir. You're up early, sir. Won't want calling."
"No, I shall not want calling this morning, Ned. How are you?"
"About all right, sir, only I don't seem to have no arm. Oh, Mr Jack--Sir John!" cried the man wildly as his master entered the cabin, and heturned his head with a shiver from his injured limb, "you ain't let himdo that, have you, while I've been asleep?"
"Do what, Ned?" said Jack in a soothing voice.
"Take a fellow's arm off, sir."
"No, no, Ned, my lad," said the doctor, laying his hand upon hispatient's forehead. "It feels numb and dead from the wound."
"Then--then it isn't off?" cried the poor fellow with a gasp. "Oh,thank goodness! It give me quite a turn, sir, an
d I was afraid tolook."
"You're better, Ned, and coming round fast," said the doctor, as a warmglow of light began to illumine the cabin, driving away the shadows ofthat terrible night.
"Oh yes, sir, I'm all right," said the wounded man, speaking morestrongly now. Then in quite an apologetic tone, "Not quite all right,Sir John; you see, there's my arm. Sorry to have give so much trouble,Sir John; but you see, it wasn't quite my fault."
"Ah, lie still, you rascal!" said the doctor, as the man made an attemptto rise.
"Yes, don't move, Edward," said Sir John warmly. "I am very verythankful to see you so much better."
"Thankye, Sir John. It's very good of you to say so. But I can't stophere in your way. Seems as if I was shamming ill like so as to getwaited on: and if there's anything I hate it's that. Don't seemnat'ral, Mr Jack, sir."
"Now lie still and be silent," said the doctor sharply. "Your tongue'srunning nineteen to the dozen, and it will not do your arm any good."
"But really, sir," protested Ned, "if you'd put on a couple of goodround pieces of sticking-plaster, and let me wear it in a sling for aday or two, it would be all right."
"Will you hold your tongue, sir, hang you!" cried the doctor sharply."I'd better put a bit of sticking-plaster on that. Do you think I wantyou to teach me my profession as a surgeon?"
"No, sir; beg pardon, sir."
"Silence, sir!"
Ned screwed up his mouth and his eyes as well. "Now, Jack, my lad,"said the doctor, "I can't afford to have you ill too. Go to your room,undress and get into bed."
"Doctor! Now?"
"Yes, my lad, now. You went through a terrible day of excitementyesterday, and you have not stirred from this poor fellow's side allnight."
"Mr Jack, sir! Oh!" cried Ned in a voice full of reproach.
"Look here, Ned," said the doctor, "if you say another word I'll giveyou a draught that will send you to sleep for twelve hours.--Now, Jack,my lad, do as I advise. Believe it is for your good. Go and sleep aslong as you can. Never mind about it's being daylight. Ned is quiteout of danger, and in a few days, when the poison is quite eliminated,he will be himself again."
At the words "danger" and "poison" the man's eyes opened wonderingly,and he looked at Sir John and his young master in turn.
"Yes, Jack, my lad, go."
"But if--"
"There is no _if_ in the case, my boy," said the doctor. "It was abattle between the poor fellow's strength and the poison on thatwretched arrow, and Ned has won."
"Oh!" ejaculated the man softly.
At that moment the captain and Mr Bartlett entered the cabin.
"We have heard all you said," exclaimed the former, as he came to theside of the couch and took the patient's hand, to give it a firm grip."Good lad: well done."
"And I am very glad, Ned," said the mate warmly.
"There, that will do," said the doctor sharply. "He is forbidden tospeak, but he says through me, that he is very grateful to you all, andglad to find that his manly, straightforward, willing ways have won himso many friends. Nod your head to that, Ned."
The man gave him a comically pitiful look, which seemed to Jack to mean,"Oh, I say, doctor, you're pitching that last too strong," but heremained quiet after giving every one an attempt at a nod.
"Now then," said, the doctor, "I want this cabin cleared, for he isgoing to sleep for a few hours, to get cool and calm. Yes, you are,"said the doctor, in answer to a look full of protest. "And as soon asyou wake I'll have you carried to your own berth. There, behaveyourself, and you'll be all right in a few days."
Half-an-hour later both patient and Jack were sleeping soundly, and thatevening, thoroughly out of danger, Ned was resting again in his ownberth, and Jack was dining with the rest in the cabin as if nothingwhatever had occurred; the yacht many miles now from the island, whichstood in the evening light like a blunted cone of perfect regularityresting upon the placid sea.
That night the regular watch was kept, and the sea was steadily swept insearch of danger in the shape of canoes stealthily approaching to tryand take the yacht by surprise. But no danger came near, and at last,after lying awake for some time, thinking of the account his father hadgiven him of the attack made by the enemy, and the terrible anxietyabout the little shooting party, Jack fell into a deep and dreamlesssleep, to rise refreshed and find the doctor's prognostic was correct,the patient having also had a quiet night, with the steward and Lenny tokeep watch by his pillow, and there was no sign of fever to check arapid recovery.
That day, with his mind at ease, Jack sat listening to a discussion heldunder the awning, as the yacht softly rose and fell upon the longpulsations of the calm sunlit sea, with the island lying ten or a dozenmiles away.
"Of course, gentlemen," said the captain, "it is for you to decide. Weare your servants, and your wish is our law."
"Well," said Sir John, "I am ready to speak apologetically to you,Bradleigh, for you cannot feel the interest in the place that we asnaturalists do."
"Don't apologise, Sir John. Speak out and say what you feel."
"It is Doctor Instow's feeling too. We think that now we have reachedhere--thanks to you--"
"Only done what you wished, sir," said the captain bluntly.
"Well then, now that we have reached a place which teems with objects ofinterest, and which we have not half explored, it is a pity to leave it.What do you say, Jack? Shall we give it up?"
"Because a pack of senseless savages come and attack us? No, it wouldbe cowardly," cried the lad.
"Poisoned arrows, spears, war canoes," said the doctor, with a queerlook at Jack.
"Of course they are horrible," said the lad, flushing; "but perhaps weshall see no more of the blacks. Don't give it up, father."
"I should regret to have to do so, my boy, but mine is a veryresponsible position. I feel that I have to study others. I have noright to keep the officers and crew of this vessel where they are likelyto encounter great risks."
"For the matter of that, sir," said the captain dryly, "those who go tosea look upon risks as a matter of course, and are rather disposed tothink you landsmen run the most; eh, Bartlett? What do you say?"
"What, about the risk of staying here? Oh, I don't see any particularrisk if we keep our eyes open, and are not sparing of the coal."
"Thank you, Mr Bartlett; but there are the men to study."
"Oh, you need not study about the men, Sir John," said the captainbluffly. "What do you say to that, Bartlett?"
"Study them, sir, no. They like it. They thoroughly enjoy the bit ofexcitement. If you put it to them you'll soon find which way they go."
"I should like to put it to them," said Sir John quietly.
"Have the lads all on deck," said the captain.
The hands were piped aft, and the captain waited for Sir John to speak,but he remained silent and looked at his son.
"Ask the men which they would prefer to do--stay here, or sail fartheron account of the risks from the blacks."
Jack flushed a little, but he acquitted himself pretty well, and ahurried conversation went on for a few moments, ending in Lenny beingput forward to answer, amidst a burst of cheering, which kept onbreaking out again and again whenever the man essayed to speak, and atlast he turned round angrily.
"Lookye here, mates," he cried, "hadn't you better come and say ityourselves? You've about cheered it out o' me, and made me forget whatI meant to say."
"All right, matey," cried one of the men merrily, "let 'em have it;we've done now."
"Well, gentlemen," said Lenny, taking off his straw hat and looking init as if the lost words had come through his skull to get hidden in thelining. "We all on us feels like this--as it wouldn't be English to leta lot o' lubbers o' niggers, who arn't got half a trouser to a wholehunderd on 'em, lick us out of the place. 'Sides, we arn't half seenthe island yet, and 'bout ten on us has got a sort o' wager on as to whoshall get up atop o' the mountain first and look down into
the fire."
"Hear, hear, hear!" cried the men, and encouraged by this, Lenny beganto wave his arm about and behave like a semaphore signalling to distantcrews in his excitement.
"You see, gentlemen, we say it seems foolishness to come all this way tofind what you wants, and then let these black warmint scare us off; whenwe arn't scared a bit, are we, mates?"
"No," came in a roar.
"So that's about all, gentlemen. We like the place and we're verycomfor'ble, and if it's all the same to you, we'd like to stop and gofishing and shooting and storing; and--and--and--that's all, arn't it,mates?"
"Hooray! Well done, Billy," shouted the man who had tried to be funnybefore.
"Thank you, my lads," said Sir John, "and I hope you will have to run nomore risks."
"Don't you say that, sir," cried Lenny; "we likes a bit o' funsometimes; it's like pickles and hot sauce to our reg'lar meat."
"Ay, ay, mate, that's so," cried another, and there was another cheer,followed by the joking man stepping out before his companions to sayquite seriously--
"And some on us, sir, think as you might hoist the British colours atopo' the mountain, and when we go back for you to go and give the islandto the Queen."
"We'll think about all that," said Sir John. "Then my son and Iunderstand that you are quite willing to stay in spite of the risk?"
"O' course, sir," said Lenny. "We'll go with you anywheres; won't we,mates?"
A burst of cheers greeted this speech, and Sir John said that they wouldstay in spite of all the canoes which might come.
Jack at Sea: All Work and No Play Made Him a Dull Boy Page 27