“Find doctor. Where doctor?”
“Yes,” said Carey.
Jackum turned to his companion and asked him, but it was evident that the man knew nothing, and Jackum stood for a moment or two thinking.
“Doc-tor,” he said at last, making a significant gesture downward. “Sleep um,” and he shut his eyes and laid his face upon his hand.
“No,” said Carey.
“Jackum go see.”
He started to run aft, and Carey and the other two followed, the black fellows, who were busy picking and cleaning the game they had brought back, paying no heed.
As they reached the cabin entry Carey anxiously caught Jackum’s arm.
“Mind,” he whispered, pointing downward. “Big Dan. Shoot, shoot!”
The black nodded, and dropped upon his face, to crawl up and cautiously thrust his head inside and listen, drawing it back again directly, shutting his eyes, puffing out his face and uttering a low deep snore.