Chapter Two.
The doctor was first by the injured lad’s side, quickly followed by the captain and a score of passengers who had been roused to action by the accident.
“Keep everyone back,” cried the doctor, “and let’s have air.”
The doctor was for the moment in command of the vessel, and the captain obeyed without a word, forming all who came up into a wide circle, and then impatiently returning to the injured lad’s side.
“Well?” he panted, as he took off his gold-banded cap to wipe his streaming forehead. “Tell me what to do.”
“Nothing yet,” replied the doctor, who was breathing hard, but striving to keep himself professionally cool.
“Not dangerously hurt?” whispered the captain; but in the terrible silence which had fallen his words were distinctly heard above the throbbing of the vibrating engines, which seemed to make the great vessel shudder at what had occurred.
“I am not sure yet,” said the doctor gravely.
“But the blood—the blood!” cried one of the lady passengers.
“As far as I can make out at present the leather case of his glass has saved his skull from fracture. He fell right upon it, but I fear that the collar-bone is broken, and I cannot say yet whether there is anything wrong with the spine.