You understand? Now, Frank, my man, when I put this over your
face, take a deep breath."
* * * * *
Ferrier was pale when Frank asked "Where am I?" He waved the skipper
aside, and set himself to comfort the brave man who had returned from
the death-in-life of chloroform.
"Bear down on our people and let my men take the boat back. I'm going to
stop all night with you, skipper."
"Well, of all the----well, there sir, if you ain't. Lord! what me and
Frank'll have to tell them if we gets home! Why, it's a story to last
ten year, this 'ere. And on this here bank, in a smack!" "Never mind
that, old fellow. Get my men out of danger."
The extraordinary--almost violent--hospitality of the skipper; his
lavishness in the matter of the fisherman's second luxury--sugar; his
laughing admiration, were very amusing. He would not sleep, but he
watched fondly over doctor and patient.
Ferrier was fortified now against certain insect plagues which once
afflicted him, and the brilliant professor laid his head on an old cork
fender and slept like an infant. He did not return until next evening;
he went without books, tobacco, alcohol, and conversation, and he never
had an afterthought about his own privations.
Frank seemed so cool and easy when his saviour left him, that Ferrier
determined to give him a last word of hope.
"Good-bye, my man. No liquor of any sort. You'll get well now. Bear up
for four days more, because I must have you near me; then either you'll
run home with me, or I'll order your skipper to take you.
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