"I do not believe it would have had any effect upon a wound like that, even if it had been performed ten minutes after the injury," said the doctor. "The circulation is so rapid that the poison is running through the system at once, and to proceed to such an extremity seems to be giving the patient another terrible shock to fight against when his state is bad enough without." "Then you have done everything you can?" "Everything. He is beyond human aid." CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. THE CREW HAVE THEIR OWN OPINIONS. The utter exhaustion produced by the struggle on the mountain slope and through the forest died away with Jack in the light of the terrible trouble which had come upon him; and as the afternoon wore on he just partook of such food as his father brought to him, for he would not leave the wounded man's side; and at last sunset came as they lay about a couple of miles out softly rocking upon the calm sea. He had heard how the canoes had been watched till they disappeared below the horizon line, and that all danger from another attack had passed away, but that seemed nothing in the face of this great trouble. The night was approaching fast, and Jack shuddered at the thought of the darkness, and what it would bring; and once more it seemed impossible that the strong, active fellow who had been his companion that morning should be passing away. If he could only have done something besides kneel there, keeping the poor fellow's head cool--something that would have helped him in his terrible fight with death--he would not have suffered so much; but to be so completely impotent seemed more than he could bear. "You will go to bed early, Jack," said his father that evening, when the cabin was almost dark from the lamp being turned low. "No, father; I am going to stop here, please," he replied. "I will take your place, my boy. I feel too that we owe a great duty to the faithful fellow who has served us so long. You are tired out." "No, father, I don't feel a bit tired now. Don't ask me to leave him. It is so hard with no one who knows him here; and I feel as if he will come to his senses some time, and would like to speak to me. I never did anything for him, but he always seemed to like me." "Very well, Jack," said Sir John quietly, "I will not press you to go. But you will take necessary refreshment from time to time?" "I could not touch anything," said the boy with a shudder. "If you do not you will break down." "Tell the steward to bring me some tea, then, by and by. You will go to bed?" "I? No, my boy. I could not sleep." Jack was left alone with the patient save when every half-hour or so the doctor and Sir John came down from the deck to minister in some way, and the long-drawn-out night slowly passed, with poor Ned breathing painfully, and lying nearly motionless, till a faint light began to come through the cabin windows, and the distant cries of birds floated to him over the sea.