Page:Doctor Syn - A Smuggler Tale of the Romney Marsh.djvu/138

 BEHIND THE SHUTTERS

HANK God somebody's brought a light, for I don't know what hasn't happened here. Ah, Captain, it's you, is it?" The speaker was Doctor Syn—he was calmly kneeling over the form of Mr. Rash. He had, in fact, propped his head upon his knee and was dabbing the bleeding face with his clean handkerchief.

"Just get the brandy bottle out of that corner cupboard, will you, my man?" he said to the bo'sun. "The girl there has fainted. Nothing serious, just sheer fright."

The bo'sun did as he was ordered, and Imogene was quickly restored to consciousness.

The captain for the most part just stared at Syn and said nothing. Suddenly he passed his hand over his brow and wiped away the great beads of perspiration that had gathered there; then taking the brandy bottle from the bo'sun's hand he took a long pull, and with a sigh sat down in the armchair, still staring at Doctor Syn with unconcealed amazement.

"Feeling a bit squeamish, Captain?" said the latter, smiling. "You're right, it's an ugly sight. More