With Cochrane the DauntlessHenty, G. A. (George Alfred)
General
With Cochrane the Dauntless
Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)
Biographical fiction; Dundonald, Thomas Cochrane, Earl of, 1775-1860
The Peruvian’s only reply was to spit furiously at him. Stephen placed one
of the gourds on the ground close to him, saying: “You will think better
of it presently”, poured the contents of the other over Jacopo’s head; and
then returning to the boat, brought off another coil of rope with which he
still more securely fastened Jacopo to the tree, and then went up to the
tent. He spent the day in carrying down the store of provisions, arms, and
ammunition, asking Jacopo each time he passed him whether he would have
some water. For some time the prisoner refused; but the agony of thirst
caused by the fever of his wounds at last overcame his resolution, and he
cried loudly, as Stephen approached him, for water. Stephen held the gourd
to his lips until he drank off the whole of its contents, then he went and
refilled both gourds, poured one over the man’s head, set the other down
beside him, and continued his work.
By nightfall he had carried everything on board, and there remained but to
take the other water-casks alongside. Jacopo had drunk several gourds full
of water during the day, but by evening he became delirious from fury and
the fever of his wounds; Stephen therefore undid all his fastenings save
those round his ankles, and took up his post near him. All night the man
raved incessantly. From time to time Stephen got up and poured water
between his lips, and in the morning cut a very ripe melon, squeezed the
juice from the pulp, and gave it to him to drink. Then he went down and
towed the other water-barrels to the cutter and got them on board, and
afterwards returned to his prisoner. For three days the delirium
continued. Stephen kept the bandages round his head constantly moistened
with water, and gave him melon juice to drink. The third night the ravings
sank to a whisper, and presently became silent, and Stephen thought that
all would soon be over. However, the man’s breathing became quiet and
regular, and in the morning he opened his eyes with consciousness in them.
“You here still!” he murmured, as Stephen bent over him.
“Yes, Jacopo; villain as you are, I could not leave you to die.”
“How long have I been here?” the man murmured after a long pause.
“It is four days since you attacked me. Now that you are sensible I shall
set sail, but I will first carry you to the side of the stream. Now that
you have got through the fever you will recover. I have left at the tent
one of the muskets and a store of ammunition, so that you will be able to
shoot pigs; and there is, as you know, an abundance of melons,
bread-fruit, and guavas, and I daresay you will discover other things ere
long. I trust that in the time that is before you, you will repent of your
sins, and try and make your peace with God. I have buried the body of the
man you murdered.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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