“Something happened? What?” said Aleck, wonderingly.
“I suddenly felt frightened of myself.”
“I don’t understand you.”
“I was afraid that I was losing my senses.”
“Well, then, don’t be afraid like that any more, for you’re not going to lose them.”
“Men have lost their wits by being shut up alone,” said the middy, piteously.
“Perhaps. But you’re not going to, for you’re not alone, and all you’ve got to do is to lie there patiently and wait. I say, aren’t you tired?”
“Oh, horribly. I couldn’t sleep for the horror I felt.”
“Well, you could now. Go to sleep, and I’ll wake you when Eben Megg comes back.”
“No,” said the middy; “I couldn’t sleep now. Suppose I awoke at last and found that you had gone!”