But Paddy did not speak, because there was a big lump in his throat. Only from that moment the doctor and he understood each other.
Another faithful fellow whom the doctor greatly depended on was Giant Byarnie.
So now, virtually, the four heads of the expedition were Claude, the doctor, Paddy, and Byarnie.
They used to hold little meetings by themselves, apart from the others, and talk together of their prospects.
“If everything goes fairly well,” said Dr Barrett one day, “what with rigid economy and no waste, we will manage to weather the winter, be it ever so hard.”
“What say you to bear-steak, Captain Alwyn?”
“Delicious, I’m sure, with hunger as sweet sauce.”
“Well, we can have that in abundance, and we have, or can have, fish all the weary winter. The biscuit is scarce, but we have peas, and—”
“And tobacco, sorr,” put in Paddy.
“Right you are, Paddy. For that we ought to be thankful indeed.—What I lament most,” continued the doctor, “is that our casks of cabbage have gone bad, and that we have saved no lime-juice from the burning ship. However,” he added more cheerfully, “let us keep our minds easy, and hope for the best. How are the birds, Byarnie?”