CHAPTER XXIX.
JACK HAS VISITORS.
The doctor had come and gone, confirming the verdict that Jack had dreaded to hear. In the meantime, by the kind offices of the hospital authorities, a message had been despatched to his uncle informing him of the lad’s plight.
The nurse had told the boy all she knew of the matter and added an admiring eulogy on Mr. Jukes, who, she said, had promised to call that day and had ordered that no expense was to be spared in caring for Jack in the meantime.
But all this fell on ears that were deaf. The one bitter fact that the boy’s brain drummed over and over to the exclusion of all else was that his ship would sail without him and his accident might cost him his berth.
“Isn’t there any way I can be patched up so as to get out to-morrow?” he begged.
The nurse shook her head.
“The doctor wouldn’t hear of it. You must lie here two days, at least.”
“You might as well make it a year,” moaned Jack.