This whole-souled declaration elicited no reply. The young man, exhausted by the long and exciting conversation, had fallen asleep.
“Poor boy! he is weak. Only see the great sores on him. See what a sight of little boils are coming out all over his arms.”
“That, wife, is soaking in salt water so long; and the sores are where the ropes he was lashed with chafed him.”
Utterly unable to keep the discovery confined to himself and family any longer, he mounted his horse, and rode full speed to tell Uncle Isaac and Charlie. When he reached Charlie’s, he found the boy (who was less accustomed to exposure) had recovered strength much more slowly than the mate. The moment he saw the captain, he wanted to know how Mr. Brown was getting along.
“You like Mr. Brown?” said the captain, after replying to his question.
“Like him, sir! You can’t help liking him. Every man on board liked him. The men wanted him to go with them in the boats; but they wouldn’t have the captain, and he thought it was his duty to stick by him.”
“Do you think you will want to go to sea any more?”
“I shall go if Mr. Brown goes. How can I get home, sir, when I get my strength again?”
“It will be some time before you will be fit to go. When that time comes, I’ll get you home.”
“Could I send a letter, when I am able to write?”