"Now, look here, dear lad," whispered the boatswain, speaking earnestly.
"I wouldn't say what I do if I didn't think it. Mr Dallas is going to
be purty bad, I dessay, for a month, but he'll come round."

"But I feel, Strake, as if I have done wrong by him."

"Nat'rally, dear lad; but I feel that you haven't."

"If I could only think that."

"Oh, well then, I'll soon make you. Let me ask you a question, sir.
S'pose you hadn't touched Mr Dallas?"

"Well?"

"Nobody else would, of course. We didn't know how."

"I suppose not."

"Very well then, dear lad, what would have happened?"

"I'm afraid--he would have died."

"And how soon, sir?"

"He would have bled to death. I can't say how soon. Before night."

"Exactly, sir. Well, then, you came and set to work in a way as made
every Jack here feel as if he'd do anything for you, sir; and it's
to-morrow now, and the lufftenant arn't dead."

"No, Strake; not yet."

"Nor arn't going to be; what more do you want? Come, rouse up, my lad,
and hold your head higher. Don't be skeered. Let go at us; call us
swabs and lubbers, anything you can lay your tongue to; the men 'll like
it from you. And as to Mr Terry, as has gone up where I planted the
flagstaff this morning, don't you fret about him. He daren't hardly say
his soul's his own."

"You've planted the flagstaff?"

"Yes, sir; right on the top, fastened it down between some rocks, and
got guys out to other rocks. I didn't hyste the colours, for this wind
would tear the bunting all to rags."

Sydney took a few steps to one side.

"Can't see it from here, sir, or you'd see Mr Terry too, getting
hisself such a blowing as never was. He's a-looking out for the
frigate, him too as studies navigation with the master. He ought to
know better."

"What do you mean?"

"As we shan't see the _Sirius_ for a week to come, if we do then."

"Then I must go on as if we were to stay some time," thought Syd; and
that day was spent in adding to the comfort of their quarters and the
security of the magazine, in case rain should follow the gale of wind.

Another stormy day followed, and toward night, after spending some time
by the lieutenant's bedside, Sydney was relieved by Roylance, Terry
having made no offer to aid, and when asked by Roylance, having replied
that he was under arrest, and exonerated from such duties.

"What's the weather going to be, bo'sun?" said Syd, meeting that officer
on the upper platfo