“I am mus’ go to thee child.”
“Ye’ll not lose your life, will ye?”
The men of Catch-as-Catch-Can were incapable of a word; they were amazed beyond speech. ’Twas a new thing in their experience. They had put out in a gale to fetch the doctor, all as a matter of course; but this risk to ease mere woe—and that of a child! They were astounded.
“Oh yes!” Salim answered. “For thee child.”
“Ye fool!”
Salim looked helplessly about. He was nonplussed. There was no encouragement anywhere to be descried. Moreover, he was bewildered that they should not understand!
“For thee child—yes,” he repeated.
They did but stare.
“Thee broke heart,” he cried, “of thee li’l child!”
No response was elicited.