Part 13 (1/2)
”Well, I' it was, for the sun iddy I had to lash myself to the rewtime My eye! how the men whistled!”
”For wind?”
”Yes; and the more they whistled the , and it wasn't safe to speak to Staples I say, Van, old chap, he caht up to the cross-trees hilass He said the boat with you fellows in lay just due east, and that he could make it out directly”
”And did he?”
”No; he just didn't; and then, after trying for half an hour, he said ain You see, the skipper and old Staples werethe boat behind and going on so far before co back to pick you up
”Of course, they couldn't tell that the ould drop so suddenly,”
said Mark ”Well, you caught sight of us at last?”
”Look here, friend of my boyhood, do you want to finish this authentic narrative?”
”No, I don't Go on”
”Then hold your tongue I do like that, you saying what a tongue I've got Spikes and spun yarn! It's about nothing to yours There, I won't keep you longer in suspense, as my old aunt used to say After the crew had whistled the air quite full, it all condensed and turned into a breeze--on the third evening, I think it was, and I ain, and there was anotheryour pardon,” said Mark, with a feeble smile upon his thin face
”I said another man was sent up to look-out I' have affected your hearing a little, o back to our ht from the south-east, and we soon had plenty of sail on, andtacks; but it caot a squint of you; and that night once reed with hi about uncomfortable, and the worst of it was old Whitney's prescriptions didn't do any one a bit of good”
”Of course,” said Mark, thoughtfully ”It must have been a terrible time of anxiety for the officers”
”Oh, I don't know,” said Bob, coolly ”It was a nuisance, for that first cutter was always considered our fastest boat Well, to proceed
Next day, when the sun was hot enough to fry salt junk, solittering water”
”Who did?” cried Mark, eagerly
”Who did?” replied Bob, thoughtfully ”Let e! It must have been somebody, because the shi+p's head was altered, and--No curious it is that I can't think who it was sighted the boat!”
”I know,” said Mark ”You did, Bob”
”Oh, I say, doctor!”
”Did I?” said that young gentle his head ”Well, now you say so, I think it was Robert Howlett, Esquire, with the spy-glass old Staples abused so, and a pretty row there ent on below on deck
The chaps were halfover with exciteet a peep at you And when--oh, my!--we did at last co about in the boat, with no more discipline than you'd see in a shoal of seals on a rock You looked as if you had all been pitched in anyhow, and--_gug_!”
”Why, Bob! what's the aze on the convulsed face, and just obtained one glance before it was turned away For Bob's voice had suddenly changed froht, half-cynical, playful tone There was a sudden choking as if sos thoroughly stole a thin, feeble hand into his, and whispered softly, ”Oh, Bob, old chap!” the face was turned sharply back at hiry way:
”Well, so would you if you'd seen it Even iron Staples pretty nearly broke down It was just horrid Didn't seem to be a bit of life in any one of you but Tom Fillot, and he couldn't have cut a joke to save his life As for you, I wouldn't have given a penny more for you than the worth of your uniform, and that was all shrunk You looked--”
”Hoill he look to-morrow, Mr Howlett?” cried a sharp voice, that of the doctor ”So this is the way you keep watch over a patient, is it, sir? He was getting better, and noork's all undone again I expect you've killed hi Mark's pulse ”Yes, of course