“You had better leave him to us,” said Billie in a low voice. “Don’t call his attention to Feargus and I will try to keep him interested.”
The doctor retreated. It was evident that he could do nothing and that the life of his charge lay in the hands of those two despised young people. In the meantime, Feargus had run swiftly all the way around the deck and was now creeping along outside the railing, hoping to reach the child without being noticed.
“Arthur, I love you, dear,” called Billie, coming a step nearer, “and I shall be a big sister to you always. I know lots of fairy stories, too. Wouldn’t you like to have me tell you about Queen Mab and all the fairies, how they danced every night in the moonlight in a circle on the lawn, and one night a big rabbit came along and scared them away——”
Arthur laughed joyfully and almost lost his balance. Billie’s heart stood still. Feargus had nearly reached him now, but what if the child should turn his head and see him creeping up behind! Such a strange passionate little fellow he was, filled with wild impulses and with bitterness, too. Might he not give the leap, as he threatened, just as Feargus stretched out his hand to grasp him?
“Arthur, if you keep perfectly still while I count ten,” called Billie, “I will do anything in the world you ask. We will have a game of catcher, or hide and seek; or I’ll tell you a beautiful story, or Feargus will sing you an Irish song——”
“Oh,” interrupted the child in an ecstasy of pleasure which made Billie’s heart fairly ache, “oh, will he? Goody, goody——” and with that he let go of the rail to clap his hands, and toppled over the side of the ship.
But Arthur was not destined to die that morning. Feargus, who reached him just as he fell, caught one of his small feet in a firm grasp and drew him back to the ledge. Then he lifted the unconscious child gently in his arms and gave him to Billie, who laid him on the deck.
Telemac Kalisch appeared just then, looking for his young Irish friend. He hurried up to the group, followed by the doctor, who was speechless with fright and mortification.
“He’s all right,” said Telemac, feeling Arthur’s heart and wetting the child’s lips from one of the small phials in the medicine case. “There, he’s coming to already. You came near having a fine ducking, my boy, didn’t you?” he exclaimed, smiling gravely into the little fellow’s bewildered eyes.
“Then I’m not dead, after all?” asked Arthur.