Part 54 (1/2)
These words roused me, and I turned to Barkins, who was lying back with his eyes nearly closed and looking ghastly, while Smith sat staring straight before him, with his hands grasping the seat on either side, in a stiff, awkward position.
”Here, Smithy,” I said, ”quick, Tanner has fainted;” but he took no notice, and I whispered to him angrily--
”Get up. It's all over now. Come and help me. Don't let these horrible people see Tanner like this.”
He turned to me then, and let his eyes fall on our messmate.
”Can you get me a drink of water, Ching?” he murmured.
”Yes, d'leckly; wait lit' bit. Po' Mr Barki' Tanner leg velly bad, makee sick. You' alm velly bad still?”
”Very bad; it throbs,” murmured Smith.
”Ah, yes! Wait lit' bit and no clowd. Ching take you have cup flesh tea, and quite well d'leckly. You not likee execution?”
I shook my head.
”Velly good job cut allee head off. No go killee killee, burn s.h.i.+p no more.”
”We're not used to seeing such things,” I said weakly, as I supported Barkins to keep him from slipping to the ground.
”You no go see execution when Queen Victolia cut off bad men's head?”
I shook my head.
”Ah, I see,” said Ching. ”Me tink you have velly gleat tleat. But I see, not used to see. Velly blave boy, not mind littlee bit next time.”
”What's the matter? Don't, doctor. It's getting well now.”
It was Barkins who spoke, and his hands went suddenly to his injured leg, and held it, as he bent over towards it and rocked himself to and fro.
”Throbs and burns,” he said, drawing in his breath as if in pain. ”I-- I--”
He looked round wildly.
”I remember now,” he said faintly. ”Don't laugh at me, you chaps. I turned sick as a dog as soon as that butchering was over. I never felt like this over the fighting. I say, Gnat, did I faint right away?”
”Yes, dead!” I said; ”I was nearly as bad.”
”Enough to make you. But oh, my leg, how it does sting! I say, isn't it queer that it should come on now? Did the fainting do it?”
”I dunno,” said Smith hastily, ”but my arm aches horribly. I say, do let's get away from here, or I shall be obliged to look over yonder again.”
”Yes, I'm all right again now,” said Barkins quietly. ”Let's get away.
I say, lads, it's of no use to be humbugs; we did all feel precious bad, eh?”
We looked at each other dolefully.
”Yes, let's get away,” I said. ”I thought we were coming out for a jolly day.”
Barkins shuddered and now stood up.