Hunting the Skipper Part 27

"But it answered all purposes, d.i.c.k."

"Humph! Maybe; but it looked so small, especially when we had all our guns loaded and the men ready for action."

"Patience," said Murray merrily, taking up the captain's words.

"Patience! You boys--hot-blooded boys are always in such a hurry. Wait a bit, old chap, and when we catch up to the Yankee we're to have a turn at the boarding. You'll have a try, eh?"

"Will I?" said the boy, s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g up his features and setting his teeth hard. "Will I! Yes!"

"Mean it?"

"Yes, I believe so," said Roberts thoughtfully. "I felt ready for anything when those war canoes were coming on, and I believe I should feel just the same if the lads were standing ready to board the schooner. But I don't know; perhaps I should be all of a squirm. I don't want to brag. It all depends. Those who make the most fuss, Frank, do the least. We shall see."

"Yes," said Murray, looking at his comrade with a curious, searching gaze; "we shall see."

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

THE DOCTOR IS RILED.

It was with a peculiar feeling of relief that all on board the sloop pa.s.sed out into the open and saw the dull green banks of the mangrove forest fading away astern. For there had been a haunting feeling of depression hanging over the vessel which seemed to affect the spirits of officers and men.

"Hah!" said the doctor, coming up to where the two middies were gazing over the stern rail, "that's a comfort, boys. I can breathe freely now."

"Yes," said Murray; "the air seems so much fresher and makes one feel more elastic, sir. Gives one more of an appet.i.te."

"What!" said the doctor drily. "More of an appet.i.te, eh? I never noticed that you two wanted that. Gracious, how much do you want to devour!"

"Oh, I say, doctor, I don't eat so much," said Murray, protesting.

"No, sir; it isn't _so_ much; it's too much."

"You're mixing us up, doctor," said the lad mischievously, and he gave the professional gentleman a peculiarly meaning look. "You were thinking of Roberts."

"Here, what's that?" said the middy sharply. "I'm sure I never eat more than a fellow of my age and size should."

"Oh, I say, d.i.c.k," said Murray. "Hear him, doctor? Why, I've seen the mess steward open his eyes sometimes with wonder."

"Tchah! He's always opening his eyes with wonder, staring at everything. He's a regular idiot."

"Ah, well," said Murray, "I don't want to draw comparisons."

"Then don't do it," cried Roberts warmly.

"Don't be so peppery, my lad," said the doctor.

"Well, I don't want to be accused of gluttony or eating to excess."

"Pooh! Don't mind what he says," said the doctor good-humouredly. "I hate excess, but it does me good to see growing boys make a hearty meal."

"Frank Murray's too fond of bantering, doctor," said Roberts; and then, involuntarily pa.s.sing a finger tenderly over the spots where the incipient bits of whisker had been singed off, "I don't quite look upon myself as a growing boy."

"Oh, don't you?" said the doctor, rather gruffly. "I should have thought you had not done putting on inches. There, never mind Murray's chaff. By the way, why do you keep shaving yourself down the cheeks with that finger? does the skin feel tender where you were so much scorched?"

"Yes, doctor, a little," replied the youth innocently enough.

"H'm, yes, but that cream I gave you does good, doesn't it?"

"Oh yes, doctor."

"Nasty scorching you fellows all had. I quite expected to have some bad patients--burns and spear wounds. Lucky escapes, all of you. That t.i.tely was the worst, but the way in which a good healthy sailor's flesh heals up is wonderful. It's just like cutting into a piece of raw native indiarubber before it has been fooled about and manufactured up with brimstone--vulcanised, as they call it. You lads ought to bear it in mind, in case you get a cut or a chop. All that's wanted is to see that the wound is thoroughly clean and dry, and then squeeze the sides up together and the flesh adheres after the fas.h.i.+on of a clean cut in indiarubber. Ah, I like a good clean cut."

"What!" cried the lads together, as half laughingly they stared at the speaker in surprise.

"Well, what are you both looking at? I don't mean that I personally like cuts; but they're pleasant to get healed up--not like bullet wounds or ragged holes through a fellow."

"No," said Murray; "not like holes."

"Not that I mind a clean bullet hole through the flesh so long as it does not encounter a bone."

"Exactly, doctor; so long as it does not encounter a bone," said Murray drily.

"That's where the trouble begins, sir," said the doctor, smacking his lips and making the two middies exchange glances. "You see, you get a complicated fracture of the bone with tiny fragments that refuse to show where they are commencing irritation and that sort of thing."

"Yes, doctor," said Murray drily; "but aren't we getting into an uncomfortable discussion?"

"No, sir, a most interesting one; but when I spoke it was not all about injured bones or ordinary shot-holes or cuts; I was saying how glad I was to be out of that river and mangrove swamp where your West Coast fever haunts the low lands, and miasmatic emanations are always ready to pounce upon people and set up tasks for the hardest-worked man in the s.h.i.+p."

"To do what, doctor?" said Roberts.

"I thought I spoke very plainly, young gentleman; I said set up tasks for the hardest-worked man in the s.h.i.+p."

"But that sounds as if you--that is to say--I--I--You don't mean yourself, sir?" said Roberts, in a stammering, half-confused way.

"Not mean myself, sir?" said the doctor angrily. "Why, who else could I mean?"

"That's what puzzled me, sir," said Roberts, staring. "Frank Murray and I have always thought--"

"Here, I say," cried Murray, laughing and enjoying the verbal engagement that had sprung up like a squall in the tropics, "don't you begin dragging me into the discussion."

"Exactly! Certainly not," cried the doctor hotly. "If there is any need for it I can tackle Master Murray afterwards. I am dealing with you, sir. You gave me to understand that you did not consider I was the most hard-worked man in the s.h.i.+p."

"Very well then," cried Roberts warmly, "if you will have it that way, I don't."

"Oh! Indeed!" said the doctor angrily. "Then what about the last few days, when I am suddenly brought face to face with a score of wounded men, and with no one to help me but a surgeon's mate or dresser who is as stupid as men are made?"

"Wounded, sir?" said Roberts.

"Yes, sir, wounded. Burned, if you like it better. Singed and scorched. It all comes under the broad term of casualties, does it not?"