His finger was broken, and then blood-poisoning set in. Up to
the collar-bone his arm is discoloured, and the glands are blackish-blue
here and there. He smiled as he put out his hand, and he said, 'He du
hurt, sir. I've had hardly an hour's sleep since the first breeze, and,
when I du get over, I fare to feel as if cats and dogs and fish and
things was bitin'.' Then I asked him if he had stuck to work. Yes; he
had helped to haul as late as this last midnight. Now he's gone back,
and I must see him, at any price, to-morrow, or I cannot save that arm.
I couldn't hurry like a butcher, and so there will be many a man in pain
this night."
Marion Dearsley was deeply stirred. "I wish I could go round with you
to-morrow and search out any bad cases."
"I must tell you that, so far as I can see, almost every conceivable
kind of accident happens during a violent gale--everything, from death
to a black eye. But, all the same, I wish you _could_ come with me."
Blair burst into his jolly laugh; he was such a droll dog was Blair, and
he _would_ have his joke, and he _would_ set up sometimes, as a sly
rascal, don't you know--though he was the tenderest and kindest of
beings.
"This is what your fine scheme has come to, is it? Oh! I see a grand
chance for the novel-writers."
Oh, Blair was indeed a knowing customer. He made Ferrier look a little
foolish; but the ladies knew him, Tom Lennard adored him, and the grand,
calm Marion smiled gently on him.
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