“It ought to be, sir; but we are dealing with savages, and I will not venture to say.”
The steward came hurrying up at that moment, to give a sharp look-out for danger, but seeing the enemy far astern, and the yacht gliding swiftly along toward the open sea, he walked confidently to where the group stood by the wheel.
“Doctor Instow would be glad if you would come into the cabin, Sir John.”
“It’s about, Ned,” cried Jack. “I’d forgotten him.”
He ran to the cabin hatch, and Sir John followed quickly.
“Hah!” cried the doctor. “I’m glad you’ve come. He’s very bad, Jack. Yes, very bad, Meadows, poor lad.”
“But from a wound like that?” said Sir John, and he and his son bent over the poor fellow where he lay on one of the cabin settees, with his eyes wide open, and looking very fixed and strange.
“Yes, from a wound like that,” replied the doctor. “It would be nothing in an ordinary way, but I saved the head of the arrow which passed through his arm, and it and the top of the shaft had been well smeared with some abominable preparation. The poison is affecting his system in a very peculiar manner.”
“Can he hear what you say?” whispered Jack anxiously.
“No; he is quite insensible. He was talking wildly a few minutes ago, but he could not understand a word.”