t lightening of the gloom, and
before many more minutes had passed the boat was forced out suddenly
through a curtain of drooping boughs into the dazzling light of the open
river.

The "Jason" was riding at anchor quite a quarter of a mile lower down
the stream, while close in shore was another of the brig's boats,
standing up in whose stern the unmistakeable figure of Captain Banes was
seen.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

ABOARD THE BRIG AGAIN.

The two boats reached the anchored vessel about the same time, and Sir
Humphrey, who looked ghastly, was carefully lifted on board and borne
down into the cabin, where the captain examined the injured arm.

Brace watched his countenance anxiously while he was doing so, feeling,
as he did, ready to cling to the first hand extended to him in his
terrible difficulty, for his brother lay back now half-insensible and as
if overcome by a terrible feeling of drowsiness. The young man stood
silently waiting for the captain to speak.

"Now then, squire," said the captain grimly, after his long examination,
"do you want to hear what I think of this?"

"Yes, yes, of course I do, captain," cried Brace excitedly.

"Then look here, squire, I'm not a doctor nor a surgeon; but a skipper
who goes on long voyages all over the world gets to know something about
physic as well as about broken bones and out-o'-joints, cuts, and
scratches."

"Yes, of course, I know that," said Brace, who was becoming very anxious
about his brother's condition, and could not understand how the captain
could remain so calm and unmoved.

"Well, then, this is just the same as a cut, only it happens to be a
deep one that goes right through the arm."

"Yes, yes, I know that," said Brace impatiently. "But--"

"Wait a bit, squire. You young chaps are always in such a hurry. Now,
I was going to say that your brother here, being a fine healthy man who
don't take liberties with his constitution, all there'd be to do would
be to tie up the cut and make him a sling for his arm, keep the wound
clean, and wait patiently till it had grown together again."

"But don't you see it's a wound from an arrow? Talk low, or he will
hear you."

"Not he," said the captain; "he don't understand a word we're saying--
poor chap! He's quite unconscious. I know what you mean about the
poison, and I've seen a man once who had a poisoned arrow shot into
him."

"And did he look like my brother does now?"

"Not a bit, my lad; and I