Part 16 (1/2)
”Split me, but Mr. Sedgwick has been hurt. What is it, sir? Did you fall?” the boatswain asked.
”Waylaid and knocked in the head,” I answered, sinking down into the stern on account of a sudden attack of dizziness.
Caine was tying up my head with a handkerchief when the mists cleared again from my brain.
”All right, sir. A nasty crack, but you'll be better soon. I've sent Johnson up to have a lookout for the guys that done it,” the boatswain told me cheerily.
”No use. They've gone to cover long since. Call him back and let's get across to the s.h.i.+p.”
”Yes, sir. That will be better.”
He called, and presently Johnson came back.
”Seen anything of the scoundrels, Johnson?” demanded Caine.
”Not a thing.”
I had been readjusting the handkerchief, but I happened to look up unexpectedly. My glance caught a flash of meaning that pa.s.sed between the two. It seemed to hint at a triumphant mockery of my plight.
”Caine is a deep-sea brute, mean-hearted enough to be pleased at what has happened,” I thought peevishly. Later I learned how wide of the mark my interpretation of that look had been.
A chorus of welcome greeted me as I pa.s.sed up the gangway to the deck of the _Argos_. One voice came clear to me from the rest. It had in it the sweet drawl of the South.
”You're late again, Mr. Sedgwick. And--what's the matter with your head?”
”Nothing worth mentioning, Miss Wallace. Captain Bothwell has been trying to find what is inside of it. I think he found sawdust.”
”You mean----”
”Knocked in the head as I came down to the wharf. Serves me right for being asleep at the switch. Think I'll run down to my room and wash the blood off.”
Yeager offered to examine the wound. He had had some experience in broken heads among the boys at his ranch, he said.
”Perhaps I could dress the hurt. I had a year's training as a nurse,”
suggested Miss Wallace, a little shyly.
”Mr. Yeager is out of a job,” I announced promptly.
The girl blushed faintly.
”We'll work together, Mr. Yeager.”
She made so deft a surgeon that I was sorry when her cool, firm fingers had finished with the bandages. Nevertheless, I had a nasty headache and was glad to get to bed after drinking a cup of tea and eating a slice of toast.
CHAPTER X
ANOTHER STOWAWAY