In the morning she found that the fire was lighted on a sort of shelf close to the boat. Mr. Hazel had cut the shelf and lighted the fire there for Welch's sake, who had complained of cold in the night.
While Hazel was gone for the crayfish, Welch asked Helen to go for her prayer-book. She brought it directly, and turned the leaves to find the prayers for the sick. But she was soon undeceived as to his intention.
"Sam had it wrote down how the Proserpine was foundered, and I should like to lie alongside my messmate on that there paper, as well as in t'other place" (meaning the grave). "Begin as Sam did, that this is my last word."
"Oh, I hope not. Oh, Mr. Welch, pray do not leave me!"
"Well, well then, never mind that; but just put down as I heard Sam; and his dying words, that the parson took down, were the truth."
"I have written that."
"And that the two holes was on her port-side, and seven foot from her stain-post; and I say them very augers that is in our cutter made them holes. Set down that."
"It is down."
"Then I'll put my mark under it; and you are my witness."
Helen, anxious to please him in everything, showed him where to put his mark.