“I’m not experienced enough to say,” replied Brace, smiling. “What do you think?”
“I think I don’t know, my lad: it’s as likely to be one way as the other. What do you say to dividing the crew and passengers into two watches, all well armed and ready for the worst? One watch on deck, the other below, just lying down in our clothes with a rifle for a bedfellow, ready to run up at the first call.”
“I should say it would be very wise,” said Brace, “and I think we had better do it.”
“But there’s another way, my lad: suppose we up anchor and drop down with the stream for a few miles before letting go again.”
“I don’t like going backward,” said Brace, “and we might be getting into a worse place.”
“Out of the frying-pan into the fire, eh? Right: so we’ll stop here and be fried.”
The division was made, and soon after dark Brace found himself keeping a sharp look-out on deck in company with Briscoe and part of the crew, the captain taking the first watch, while the first and second mates were below with half the men, ready to rush up at the first summons.
This plan was quite in accordance with Brace’s wishes, for it enabled him to keep stealing down to his brother’s berth, and after these visits he would return on deck better satisfied, for the patient was still sleeping heavily, and there was not a symptom visible that could cause alarm.
The captain was also of this opinion, he informed Brace, as the young man took a turn or two with him up and down the deck.
“You’ve nothing to fidget about, squire. That arrow was poisoned, sure enough; but what you did, and the bleeding, washed all the bad stuff away, and the wound will begin to heal up at once. There, you go and use your eyes in all directions, my lad. I want to think.”