Part 10 (2/2)
”I hly to you, Toerly ”I didn't want to wound you, but I know you were saying all that to try and cheer ht honest, p'raps it was”
”Then don't please I'm sick and faint, and ready to die”
”Nay, not you, sir Too much pluck in you”
”Pluck!” cried Mark, bitterly ”I'm in despair”
”Nay, not you, sir You're in coot to let yourself drift off nowhere, and think about taking care of us That's your duty, sir, and you know it What's to become o' us if you cut yourself adrift? That won't do at all There, sir, let's wait for day We may have quite a breeze cohtylass_ bowling down to us For, trustMr Bob Howlett'll be up at the lass, see if he ain't Better have a sleep, sir”
”No, man, no; I'm too ill and miserable to sleep”
”Then if you won't ive ood, and it will rest ”
”Sleep if you can,” said Mark, bitterly
”Nay, sir, I can't sleep if you take it and speak like that Dessay I shall be just as well awake”
”No, no, lie down and rest a bit,” cried Mark
”Mean it, sir?”
”Mean it, man? yes”
”Then thank ye, sir; and if you want ive the word, and I'll tumble up at once”
To the lad's wonder, Tom Fillot lay down in the botto deeply and as regularly as if nothing whatever rong
How that night passed Mark Vandean could hardly tell He crept from place to place in the boat to see how the men were, and then crept back to his old seat close by Mr Russell Then, with the boat gently rising and falling, he waited for the day, thinking of home, of the possibilities of escape, and above all, of the terrible hunger and fearful thirst which dried hi never coht not, as he recalled the sufferings of the past day; and noas content to sit, thankful that the day did not break, for there was rest and less pain in the ht
It was like the deliriuht in darkness, the next the sun had rolled above the horizon, and the boy strained his eyes in all directions for the co sea--everywhere, all ruddy gold and a into his brain, till a strange sense of weariness ca of sleep
He fought against this time after time, and strove to keep to his duty, but it was all-powerful, and at last, feeling that he was sinking into delirium or a deadly sleep, he stretched out his hand to awaken Tolance round
The next instant he had glided down into the botto save his fevered drea waters, and hoht water; and as a great bird slowly floated over the and wondering which would be the first of the insensible men on board to sink into a deeper sleep--one from which there would be no return
That was just as Mark was dreahtest of his old Devon hoold, and then into silvery dazzling white
CHAPTER NINE
BOB HOWLETT AS NURSE
”Oh, Mr Whitney, sir, don't say he's dead”