Page:Barbour--Joan of the ilsand.djvu/212

200 "Starboard a bit. Why, that must be Sandy Hook light! Didn't know we were so near. Starboard, I said, thick head! One of these days you'll get your block knocked off, like Murdock did. Stone dead he was. I hate killing men, Gibbs. They don't stop dead, damn them. Murdock was an obstinate pig when he was alive, and he's too obstinate to stay in his grave now. Eh? Oh, no. Of course. He was dumped overboard, as you say. Well, why in hell can't he stay there, instead of fooling around on Tao Tao? Think I must have got a touch of fever, Gibbs. Hold her on that course a while. I'm going below for a dose of quinine."

Chester listened, and frowned, perplexed. Then he stole out of the room and fetched the doctor.

"Can't do a thing till the sweat comes," declared Pills. "Keep him well covered up, though, and I expect he'll pull through all right. They generally do."

"Generally, eh? Do you think there's a doubt about it, doctor?"

"Not exactly. He's pretty bad, though. Guess I can persuade the Old Man to keep his hook down here till to-morrow. The ship's in no hurry. Probably your patient will be better by then."

"Joan," said her brother quietly, a few minutes later, "you'd better nurse Keith a while. I'll take it on as soon as these fellows go. He's pretty bad