Part 73 (1/2)
Steve went on, took his ten table-spoonfuls, and felt better
”Hah! I knew you would,” cried the doctor ”Now look: we must keep up thatthe men round There are plenty of tins of preserved meat in store?”
”Any amount, sir; and plenty of reindeer meat still”
”Then we shan't break down there Now, then, captain, _en avant_!”
They returned to the cabin, Steve carrying a se one, which he handed down to Johannes on the way, the Norse to eat it at once But they had very little success in the cabin, and Steve's spirits, which had been rising, sank again as they returned to the galley, where the cook was ready with a great tin bucket full of the steath
From here they went down into the forecastle, di here and there Two or three of the men sat near the stove, but for the reeted the new-comers with a hollow-eyed stare Their basins were half filled and taken from bunk to bunk; but the men could hardly be roused to eat, and at tirily insist before they could be induced to try to partake of the stea preparation
Watty was the first for who place, and found hiht He thought of how he had roused the lad up before again and again, but the spirit anting, on both sides now; and after with great difficulty inducing the lad to partake of a few spoonfuls of the so-called medicine, Watty sank back, and then felt slowly for Steve's hand
”I'm thenkin', Meester Stevey,” he whispered, ”that she'll ket pack to Scotland”
”Yes, and you too,” said Steve, with as h, though
”Nay, she's coing to dee, and she's ferry sorry she wasna always coot frien's”
”Oh, never mind that now, Watty!”
”Put she toespack to Scotland, sir, and ye'll tak' care an' co and tell my mither a' aboot her and how she deed”
Steve could bear no , and took him a basin of the doctor's soup But his success was very little better here All the men were in the dull, apathetic state pretty well expressed by the Highlander, who, after partaking of a few spoonfuls of the stimulus, said softly:
”Ye'll do her a favour?”
”Yes, Andra, if I can But stop; do me one first Get up, and try and help us”
”Nay, she'll never ket oop acain,” said the man ”Ye'll chust wait till she's deed, an' then come an' tak' awa' the pipes They're doon here peside me in her plankets, and she'll tak' care of them an' carry them pack hame wi' her; an' laddie, if she'll try an' learn the pipes, it's the far pestest music as effer wass, an' she'll thenk sometimes apoot puir Andra McByle?”
Steve prohed; but now, in, that diaunt ht of the lanthorn, it all seemed to bepossible had been done, he followed the doctor back to the cabin, where they sat down in silence
The doctor was the first to speak
”It's hard work, Steve boy,” he said; ”but we've got to do it, and with God's help ill Poor fellows! they have the y; and I tell you frankly, I' to be afraid”
”Afraid? What of?” said Steve anxiously
”That one of them will die; and if we come to that, the effect upon the others will be terrible”
Steve shuddered
”Can we do anything else?”