“Gwladys, we have saved them. Thank God!” he said.
Chapter Twenty Three.
After the Fire—A Still, Small Voice.
This is the story. The rest England knows; she knows how all the rescued men recovered, she also knows how she has honoured rescued and rescuers.
The last to get well, the slowest to get back again his health and strength, was David. For a time, indeed, for David there were grave doubts and anxieties, which on the doctors’ parts amounted to fears.
The previous shock and sorrow may have made the ten days without food, in that gloomy prison, tell more severely on him, for originally he was the strongest man of the five. However, after a fortnight of intense watching, the dreaded fever began to abate, and the burden of life which he had so nearly laid aside, he took up again, with his old cheerfulness and courage.
“I’m glad he’s not going to die,” said Nan, “he’s wanting down on earth still. Oh! ain’t he strong,” she added; “oh! if you only heard Miles talk of him!”
One day I did hear a little of what David had done, from the boy himself.