And I heard him answer, "Yes."
He was gone. I saw Sylvia, through a mist, pushing things into the box. And the doctor was back again.
A fiery something was in my mouth, and trickling down my throat. I tasted brandy.
"That's better," said the doctor, patting my back. "Make haste and help your sister. Yes, Miss Sylvia, shove it all in." And then he began to drag the blankets from our berths.
"The leddies ready? Leddies fust!" And down tumbled a sailor for the trunk.
Up the companion-ladder for the last time, the doctor prodding me in the back with his load of blankets. Sylvia, with a white face, carrying a little hand-bag. And the captain coming to meet us in the doorway.
"This one first." And I was picked up in his arms as if I'd been a baby. "Ready, Wheeler?" And I was lowered into the first mate's arms, and placed on a seat in the cutter.
The next thing I knew was that Sylvia was by my side; and that the doctor was tucking a blanket about our knees. After that four or five sailors jumped into the boat, and the captain shouted in a frantic hurry:
"Shove her off!"
The cutter fell astern. The long-boat then came forward, and all the rest of the sailors crowded in. The captain was left the last.