"I'll say it was. I doubt if we could have gotten ashore outside without having the life knocked out of us," Jack agreed.
"It's awful when you think what may have happened to the rest of them," Bob said as they turned back.
"But they may have been picked up or got ashore all right."
"We'll hope so at any rate."
It was nearly two o'clock when the doctor came in a small touring car with Jacques. After a hasty examination he confirmed their fears that it was pneumonia.
"Both lungs are congested," he told them. "But his heart action is strong and he's evidently lived a clean life, two very important factors in a case of this kind."
"Then you think he has a chance?" Bob asked.
"Sure he has," the doctor assured him. "But, of course, you never can tell how pneumonia is going to turn out. Much depends on the nursing."
"Can we get a trained nurse?"
"You've got one." The doctor nodded toward Pierre who had stepped over to the fireplace. "What that fellow doesn't know about nursing hasn't yet been learned. I'd rather have him than anyone I know."