he _Barang's_
crew. "I have seen much of this sort of thing. It will be several days
at least before you recover from your ordeal. Meanwhile I suggest that
you have your men carry you back to the post. Mrs. Goring is caring for
Gordon there and will gladly take care of you, assisted by Miss
Sheldon."

"I shall be very glad to do anything," the girl responded, and suddenly
Jack Barry felt the need for comfort he had disdained a moment before.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Cornelius Houten's trading post was no longer a place of commonplace
commerce. With the return of the injured men, the dim, cool main hut was
transformed into a quiet hospital, in which two sore and weary men were
ministered to by two gentle, capable nurses. There was something
amazingly mysterious in the swift change; for Barry and Little were
carried inside, placed on ready cots, and soothed with cooling unguents
without a moment's delay, as if they had been expected in just such a
fashion ever since their advent on the river.

Mrs. Goring came in without the least visible surprise and with her
usual sweet smile, her low voice was that of a woman intent on a
customary duty; she directed Natalie Sheldon in the work and received
her unquestioning obedience. When the side of the hut was raised to
admit the afternoon sunlight, Little sought Barry's eyes with whimsical
wonder, and the skipper shook his head painfully and growled back:

"Oh, what's the use! May as well hold tight and give the cure a chance.
No good asking me what I think of it all. I give it up. No good at
conundrums!"

The last words drawled out, and Barry fell asleep. Then Natalie bent
over him, drew a mosquito curtain around his head, and gazed down at him
with a soft, uncertain light in her luminous eyes. Mrs. Goring watched
from a dark corner, and when the girl moved away from Barry's cot and
approached Little, the older woman smiled with great sympathy and went
quietly out.

The ex-salesman watched too; and his eyes twinkled when Natalie bent
that searching look upon Barry. He noted with a grin her tender little
touches at the skipper's couch and settled himself complacently in
expectation of similar attention. His eyes closed, and he folded his
hands placidly over his chest as Natalie stepped to his side, and then
he peeped slyly at her, ready to give her some characteristically
humorous greeting.

But to his discomfiture he saw tears brimming her eyes, and the small
hand that