She was silent for a moment and then said, "I'm afraid I did break something, but I couldn't----" "Broke something? What?" he asked hastily. "My arm feels numb and queer. I fell on it." "Let me feel it," and, kneeling in front of her, he groped till he found it, and felt it with anxious gentle fingers. "Good Lord, it's broken!" "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help it. You see"---- "Your right arm too! Don't move it!" He groped about for another length of the silken hangings, tore it down, and wound it tightly round her arm. "That will keep it in place," he said. "The moment it is light I will make splints and set it properly. I am truly sorry you should have suffered so." "Better me than you. It might have been worse. What made that chain break, I wonder? We've had worse storms than this." "It was bound to give sooner or later. It was very old and rusted. Its time came, I suppose, and it went. Sure you have no other damages?" "Only bumps and bruises. I felt as if the side of my face were crushed in, but I don't think it is." "Were you in the top bunk?" "Yes. I liked to look out of the window in the mornings." "That's a good big fall to take unawares." "Yes, I fell out like a sack and woke on the floor. What shall we do if she doesn't come right side up again? We can't live all upside down like this." "There's always the other ship to fall back on ... unless her chain's broken too." "I like our own much the best." "But not if she stops like this.... And even if she straightened up she would heel over again in the next gale. I'm afraid we'll have to move." "I shall always see that man's black face about the cabin, glaring at me as he used to do as if he wanted to eat me." "If we have to go we'll give it a good cleaning, and fresh hangings, and make it to your taste." So they chatted quietly, while the gale and the birds shrieked in chorus outside, and the waves of the lake thumped scornfully on the exposed bottom of the ship. As soon as he could see, he rooted about for axe and knife, and chopped up a board and made a set of splints for her arm. And, though he grieved for the pain she must have suffered, he could not but feel a huge enjoyment in ministering to her. The mere touch of her firm white flesh was a rare delight and made his fingers tingle. He did his best to think of her only as a patient, but found it impossible. She was so very much more to him than any ordinary patient ever had been or could be.