Part 24 (2/2)

”But I insist on your re in your bunk until we round Cape Horn and reach a warmer latitude,” said Dr cockle ”I will see the captain, and tell him plainly that he will be answerable for your death, should he insist on your doing duty any longer”

Esdale still pleaded, but the doctor was peremptory

”It is his only chance,” he said to me; ”I cannot promise that he will live He will, however, certainly die if he is exposed to this biting wind and constant rain I intend to tell the captain, but you, Trawl, go and stay with him whenever you can; it will cheer him up, poor fellow, to have someone to talk to, and that dull Horner cannot speak tords of sense”

Before the doctor had ti Esdale from the deck, ordered me to tell him to co hard at the time froh in aa little time, I returned, and said--

”Esdale is very ill, sir, and is not fit to coster?” asked the captain, in an angry tone

”Dr cockle has seen him and says so,” I answered boldly

”Tell hi him neck and crop,” thundered the captain

I was as deter that he would co rascal,” shouted the captain to To near him

I immediately dived below to persuade Tom to let Esdale remain in his bunk

”It will be his death if he is exposed to this weather,” I said

”I am not the fellow to kill a shi+pmate if I can help it,” answered Tom

”Tell him to stay and I'll take the consequences”

When Tom returned on deck, the captain enquired in a fierce voice why he had not carried out his orders

”Because he is too ill to be moved, Captain Hawkins,” answered To a coil of rope in his hand, was just about to go belohen Doctor cockle ca, from the feords he heard, as the captain's intention, ca him up, and as he is my patient, I have told him to stay below”

”Am I to be thwarted and insulted on board my own shi+p?” cried the captain ”Whether he is ill or well, up he co down to the half-deck, he asked Esdale why he had not obeyed his orders

Esdale, of course, had not received the at the sa on his clothes the captain seized hied him up Scarcely, however, had he reached the deck when the poor fellow fainted right away To this, lifted hiain

”I warn you, Captain Hawkins, that you will cause the death of the lad if you compel him to be on deck in this weather,” said the doctor firmly, as he turned to follow To no reain interfere

Whether that sudden exposure to the cold had any serious effect I do not know, but Esdale after this got worse and worse Whenever I could I went and sat by his side, when he used to talk to me of the happy land for which he was bound He did not seem even to wish to live, and yet he was as cheerful as anyone on board The doctor and first mate used also to come and talk to hied the his I believe that his exhortations had a beneficial influence on them, as they had on et better after ere round the Cape, he answered--