"Ah ha!" he said, with a friendly nod. "That's all right. Come back at last, have you? Narrow squeak you made of it. How long had you been on that spar?"
"I remember—a night and a day—and a night—and the beginning of a day," I said, and my voice sounded harsh and odd to me.
"And nothing to eat or drink?"
"I chewed some seaweed, I think."
"Must have been in excellent condition or you'd never have stood it."
"What ship?"
"Plinlimmon Castle, East Indiaman, homeward bound. This is sick-bay. You're in my charge. Hungry?"
"No," and I felt surprised at myself for not being.
"I should think not," he laughed. "Been dropping soup and brandy into you every chance we got for twenty-four hours past. Head swimmy?"
"Yes," and I tried to raise it, but dropped back onto the pillow.