Part 14 (2/2)
After a minute a faint color mantled his white cheek and he heaved a long sigh.
Presently the eyelids trembled, and a moment later he opened them.
They rested on the captain, who was stooping over him.
A look of surprise came into them, but they almost immediately closed again.
A dose of hot brandy was given.
This time he recovered considerably, and looked round him inquiringly.
”You will do now, my man,” cried the captain encouragingly. ”Try him with the food,” he added.
Mrs. Cromwell brought the roughly minced meat and soddened bread and placed a spoonful in the sufferer's mouth.
He swallowed it eagerly.
After he had taken some half-dozen spoonfuls he turned his head on the pillow and fell asleep.
”He will be all right now,” whispered the captain. ”But someone must stay with him while we ransack the s.h.i.+p.”
A second door led forward, and, leaving the watchers, the rest of the party pa.s.sed through it.
Forward was found a number of great casks, such as are used to receive the blubber cut from the whale.
”She is a whaler, evidently,” exclaimed the captain.
In the forecastle there was nothing except some hammocks and a chest or two.
”We can get warmer clothing than what we possess, anyhow,” remarked the captain. ”Now, what's the best thing to do?”
”We can carry the man back in a hammock,” suggested one. ”I doubt it,”
replied the captain. ”What I propose is that some of us stay the night with him, and we will return in the morning, by which time he will be much stronger.”
On their return to the square room, Bob and Jack volunteered to remain.
This done, Bok was delegated to bring them some supper.
On arriving Bok first fastened to the rope the package he had brought, which was drawn on board, and then the rope was lowered again.
”Be jabers! but it's cold, it is,” he cried. ”If I might be so bold, I would jist suggest that we should go down below. How is the dead man?”
”He isn't dead yet,” replied Bob, laughing. ”But he is sleeping still. I hope you have brought something good for him.”
”Good, is it? There's a tin of soup, and another of salmon, besides a piece of seal, that Leeks shot while we were away.
”Then there is a bottle of wine--that's for yerselves and the sick man--and half a bottle of good rum, which I hope I may have my share in.
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