Part 15 (1/2)
”Humph!” cried the captain; ”not much cause for anxiety here”
”No,” said the first lieutenant: ”he's what theon deck? Can't have you lying here with half a dozen people to wait upon you”
”I don't want to, sir,” said Mark, in a piping voice ”Mr Whitney knows”
”Yes, I know,” said the doctor ”There,” he continued, turning to the two officers; ”you don't think much of your doctor, but what do you say to that?”
He patted Mark's head as he spoke
”I believe half the surgeons in the navy would have let the poor fellows slip through their fingers I saved them all when they were in the most hopeless state”
”Not all,” said Mr Staples, with a sharp look at the captain ”What about the poor niggers?”
”Well, I saved two of theood as dead when you called me to them Humph! did my part better than you did yours
Why didn't you take the schooner?”
The captain laughed
”He has us there, Staples,” he said ”Let the doctors alone; they are a bad set of people to play with Only serve you out when you come into their hands Don't take any notice of hilad to see you so cheerful, but don't presume upon it You must take it quietly, and be patient I want to see you on deck again”
”Quite out of the question yet,” said the doctor, sharply
”I don't , ”but in a cane seat under the awning It would be brighter and better for him to see the men about”
”Thank you, sir,” cried Mark, with a sratitude
”Oh, that's different,” said the doctor ”Well, after a few days I'll have him carried up”
”Yes,” said the first lieutenant, ”and he can lie there and hatchwith Mr Howlett, and play with the monkey Nice trio”
”Eh? Oh, yes, by the way, I cannot allow you young gentlemen to have pets of that class on board my shi+p You are not schoolboys now Why, you will be wanting white s next!”
”Shall I have the animal thrown overboard?” said Mr Staples
”Hump! Well--er--not till Mr Vandean is better You'd like to keep it a little longer, eh?” said the captain, turning to the young invalid
”Very ht of the quaint little old ht
”Very well, you can for the present”
”And now, gentlemen,” interposed the doctor, ” hio Well, Staples, we ive way, I suppose The doctor is always above the adet well, Vandean
Good-bye”
He shook hands warmly and turned to leave the cabin, the first lieutenant following his exaive the midshi+pman a friendly nod