The look of pain on his face lessened,
a healthy glow appeared on his cheek, and he slept so soundly that I
turned in--on the floor.
I was awake along in the small hours of the morning, and heard my
patient stirring, so I got up and drew the little curtain over the
bulls-eye port--it was already daylight. I gave him a drink and a
biscuit, and told him I would go to the cook's galley and get him some
broth, but he begged to wait until breakfast time--said he felt
refreshed, and would just nibble a sea biscuit. Then he ate a dozen in
as many minutes.
"Did you take care of my pack?" he said eagerly, throwing his legs out
of the berth, and looking wildly at me.
"Yes, it's all right; lie down and rest," said I; for I thought that to
cross him would set him off his head again.
"Do you know that dirty old pack contains more treasures than the mines
of Africa?"
"It don't look it," I answered, and laughed to get him in a pleasant
frame of mind--for I hadn't seen nor heard of his pack.
"Not for the little gold and other valuable things, but the proofs of a
discovery as great as Columbus made, the discovery of a new continent,
a new people, a new language, a new civilization, and riches beyond the
dreams of a Solomon--"
He shut his eyes for a minute, and then continued: "But beyond
Purgatory, through Death, and the other side of Hell--"
Just here Enoch came in to inquire after his health, and sat down for a
minute's chat.
Pages:
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213