“I hope so,” was the captain’s remark; and then once more there was silence on deck, following upon a sharp order or two that they could not make out.
Just then Dutch felt a hand laid upon his arm.
“Who is this?” he said, in a low voice.
“It is I—Meldon,” said the doctor in the same tone. “Lean towards me, Mr Pugh.”
“What do you wish to say?” said Dutch.
“Shall we be obliged to fight, Mr Pugh?” whispered the doctor.
“Are you afraid, sir?” was the reply.
“Perhaps I am; it is only natural, Mr Pugh,” said the doctor. “I have seen so much of death that I have learned to fear it more than a rough sailor or soldier, perhaps; but I was not speaking for myself.”
“I am glad of that,” said Dutch, with something of a sneer, for he was annoyed at being interrupted at such a time.
“You need not sneer, Mr Pugh,” said the doctor quietly. “What I fear is that if we come to some bloody struggle, it may mean death to some here.”