Two of us watched by the captain, and the others, accompanied by the not-to-be-lost-sight-of Smart, went to fill up the entrance. It was now daylight, and in this little instance we saw what it was to have our dear Smart back again. In ten minutes he secured the entrance far more safely than we could do in an hour; and all being now right, we adjourned to our breakfasts, though it was only to ask questions and give answers, for nobody could eat; but his important communications must be kept for another chapter.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
With a little girl on each knee, Felix hanging with arms round his neck, Oscar sitting into his pocket, and we all ranged in a circle before him, we forgot the pirates, we forgot everything but the present moment. We almost fancied ourselves once more at home; and thus we sat for hours, heedless of meals and dangers, listening to and retailing again all that had occurred since our sad and fatal parting.
The only interruptions were our occasional visits to the dear captain, whose insensibility had given place to an attack of fever and delirium, through which Madame had engaged to bring him, if we left her in peace and quiet to fulfil her own prescriptions. We could not avoid, however, spite our deep interest in all Smart said, running to enquire every ten minutes if he was better. And painful was it to hear his broken exclamations, his cries after us, the mournful repetition of each little pet name, his agonies for their fancied danger, his remorse and sorrow choking the prayers and petitions he mixed with all he said. Dear kind captain, if all you said in your delirium had been running through your brain once you had parted from us, no wonder that it had at last given way, and that you now lay before us a wreck of what you once were, a broken-down, miserable-looking, white-headed man. But now for Smart's story, which I think it best to give in his own words, as well as how we questioned it all out of him.
Felix.—"Ah, Tommy, dear Tommy, how could you run away and leave us in that bad manner?"
Oscar.—"Yes, Smart, I don't think we have ever been happy since, until to-day."
Smart (blowing his nose and wiping his eyes).—"My dear young 'squire, my darling Mr. Felix, was it not the mistress's orders? But I will never leave you again, no, not if I am pounded to death by those scums of the earth, and live to see them rewarded for their trouble."
The three little girls (all in piteous voices).—"And could they hurt you, dear Smart, so good and kind as you are, and our darling captain? Oh, make haste, make haste, and tell us all about it."