"I'm not crying," shrieked Agatha, though her voice was muffled in her
arms.
"Very well, Mademoiselle," acquiesced the polite Hand, and departed.
Two men could not have been found who were better fitted for managing a
relief expedition than Hand and Doctor Thayer. Agatha found herself,
after an unknown period of time, sitting safe under the canvas awning
of the launch, protected by a generous cloak, comforted with food and
stimulant, and relieved of the pressing anxiety, that had filled the
last hours in the cove.
She had, in the end, been quite unable to help; but the immediate need
for her help was past. Doctor Thayer, coming with his satchel of
medicines, had at first given his whole attention to James, examining
him quickly and skilfully as he lay where Agatha had left him. Later
he came to Agatha with a few questions, which she answered clearly; but
James, left alone, immediately showed such a tendency to wander around,
following the hallucinations of his brain, that the doctor decided that
he must have a sedative before he could be taken away. The needle,
that friend of man in pain, was brought into use; and presently they
were able to leave the cove. Doctor Thayer and Mr. Hand carried James
to the rowboat, and the engineer, who had stayed in the launch, helped
them lift him into the larger boat. "No more walking at present for
this man!" said the doctor.
They were puffing briskly over the water, with the tiny rowboat from
the _Jeanne D'Arc_ and the boat belonging to the launch cutting a long
broken furrow behind them. Mr. Hand was minding the engine, while the
engineer and owner of the launch, Little Simon--so-called probably
because he was big--stood forward, handling the wheel. Jim was lying
on some blankets and oilskins on the floor of the boat, the doctor
sitting beside him on a cracker-box. Agatha, feeling useless and
powerless to help, sat on the narrow, uncomfortable seat at the side,
watching the movements of the doctor. She was unable to tell whether
doubt or hope prevailed in his rugged countenance.
At last she ventured her question; but before replying Doctor Thayer
looked up at her keenly, as if to judge how much of the truth she would
be able to bear.
"The hemorrhage was caused by the strain," he said at last, slowly.
"It is bad enough, with this fever. If his constitution is sound, he
may pull through."
Not very encouraging, but Agatha extracted the best from it. "Oh, I'm
so thankful!" she exclaimed. Doctor Thayer looked at her, a deep
interest showing in his grim old face. While she looked at James, he
studied her, as if some unusual characteristic claimed his attention,
but he made no comment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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