“Ay, ay, sir; but I hope I see you better for your nap.”
“I wish you did, my man, and I wish you the same. But there, we’ve such a skilful young doctor to look after us, we shan’t hurt much.”
“Not us, sir. I am’t nothing to what you was, and see what a job Mr Belton’s made o’ you.”
“Yes; it’s wonderful. I can never be grateful enough.”
“Beg pardon, sir,” said Sydney, “but I want to finish bandaging the boatswain; and if you keep on talking like that I can’t.”
“I am silent, O doctor!” said the lieutenant, laughing. “And so you’ve got a boat, have you?”
“Such as it is, sir.”
“Then if the captain does not come back we shall have the means of getting away from this place. No; that will not do, Mr Belton: we must hold it till we are driven out. Keep to it to the very last. I say we: you must, for you are in command. I suppose it will be months before I am well.”
“I’m afraid it will,” replied Syd.
“Then you must hold it, as I said.”