Chapter Five.
Aghast.
As the cabin-door closed Fitz lay back, trying to think about his position, but he felt too comfortable to trouble much. There had been something so soft and comforting about that tea, which had relieved the parched sensation in his throat and lips. Then the skipper and his son had been so kind and attentive. It was so satisfactory too about getting that letter off, and then that evening glow rapidly changing into a velvety gloom with great stars coming out, was so lovely that he felt that he had never seen anything so exquisite before.
“There, I won’t think and worry,” he said to himself, and a minute later he had fallen into a sleep which proved so long and restful, that the sun had been long up before he unclosed his eyes again to find his younger attendant once more netting.
“Morning,” said the lad cheerily. “You have had a long nap, and no mistake.”
“Why, I haven’t been asleep since sunset, have I?”
“You have, and it seems to have done you a lot of good. You can eat a good breakfast now, can’t you?”
“Yes, and get up first and have a good wash. I long for it.”