“Why did you not go to the doctor, then, Mr Reefpoint?”
“I waited till he was done with Wiggins, sir; but now, since it is all over with him, I will go and be dressed.”
His voice grew fainter and fainter, until I could scarcely hear him. I got him in my arms, and helped him into the cabin, where, on stripping the poor little fellow, it was found that he was much hurt on the right side, just above the hip. Bang’s kind heart, for by this time a glass of water had cured him of his faintness, shone conspicuous on this occasion.
“Why, Reefy—little Reefy—you are not hurt, my man—Surely you are not wounded—such a little fellow,—I should have as soon thought of firing at a musquitto.”
“Indeed, sir, but I am; see here.”—Bang looked at the hurt, as he supported the wounded midshipman in his arms.
“God help me,” said the excellent fellow, “you seem to me fitter for your mother’s nursery, my poor dear boy, than to be knocked about in this coarse way here.”
Reefy, at this moment, fell over into his arms, in a dead faint.
“You must take my berth, with the Captain’s permission,” said Aaron, while he and Wagtail undressed him with the greatest care, and placed him in the narrow crib.
“Thank you, my dear sir,” moaned little Reefpoint; “were my mother here, sir she would thank you too.”
Stern duty now called me on deck, and I heard no more. The night was still very dark, and I could see nothing of the chase, but I made all the sail I could in the direction which I calculated she would steer, trusting that, before morning, we might get another glimpse of her. In a little while Bang came on deck.