He went on till he had dressed the interior of the skin with the soap preparation, and after filling certain parts with cotton-wool, and tying the wing-bones together, he turned it back, smoothed the plumage, and I saw that it was another of the short blue-barred kingfishers similar to that we had obtained before.
I could not help noticing as I lay there so quietly what great care and attention he gave to his task, seeming as if he thoroughly enjoyed his work, and felt it to be a duty to do it well.
At last, though, it was put away to dry, and after carefully washing his hands he came to the hut door very gently to see if I was awake.
“Ah, Nat,” he said smiling, “how are you after your long sleep?”
“Long sleep, uncle!” I cried. “Is it very late?”
“Nearly noon, my boy. Well, how are you?”
“I—I think I’m quite well, thank you, uncle,” I said, springing up, and feeling ashamed to be lying there, but turning so giddy that I should have fallen had Uncle Dick not caught my arm.
“Sit down,” he said quietly. “There, that is better.”
“Yes; I feel better now,” I said.
“To be sure you do. Well, Nat, I think we have beaten the fever. You will feel weak for a day or two, but you will soon be all right.”