--get
rid of him somehow!"

"I am sorry to say, sir, that he has attacked the women," answered the
doctor. "Betty Snell is very ill, and Mrs Bolton is evidently
sickening. What the motherless baby will do, I cannot say. Probably
that will die too, and so be provided for."

"Heaven forbid!" said the Captain, "for the honest father's sake. The
child will have plenty of nurses. We must not forget poor Molly--how
nobly she braved Yellow Jack himself when the sick wanted her aid! We
all are bound to look after the baby. The sooner it is taken away from
the poor woman the better. Let me see. Tell Paul Pringle to go and get
the baby and bring it up to my cabin. That is the most airy and healthy
place for the little chap. We must rig out a cot for it there.
Freeborn himself would feel bashful at taking his child there. Either
he or Pringle must act as nurse, though. I have no fancy for having one
of the ship's boys making the attempt. They would be feeding him with
salt beef and duff, or smothering him; and as for waking when he cries
at night, there would be little chance of their hearing him. But I will
go below with you, doctor, and visit the poor people. Come along."

Saying this, the good Captain descended to the lower-deck with the
surgeon. The weather side of the ship forward had been screened off and
appropriated to the sick. As he appeared, those who were conscious
lifted up their heads and welcomed him with a look of pleasure; but many
were raving and shrieking in the delirium of fever, and others, worn out
by its attacks, were sunk in stupor from which they were not to awake.
Then the Captain visited the berth of the two women. Mrs Bolton was
still struggling in a vain attempt to ward off the disease, and
endeavouring to nurse poor little Billy; but she could scarcely lift her
hand to feed him, and evidently a sickness and faintness was stealing
over her.

The Captain said nothing, but going out, sent a boy to call Paul
Pringle. He soon returned with Paul, who, stooping down, said quietly,
"Here, Mrs Bolton, you feels sick and tired, I know you does. You've
had hard times looking after Betty Snell, and I'll just dandle the
youngster for you a bit. You know you can have him again when you feels
better and rested like."

Thus appealed to, poor Nancy gave up the baby to Paul, who dandled it
about before her for a minute; then as she was casting an affectionate
glance at it, he disappeared alo