It was the doctor's next business to attend to Mac; and
he found occasion, while engaged upon his arm, to make
the man repeat the names of the rescued crew. It was
now the turn of the captain, and there is no doubt he
was no longer the man that we have seen; sudden relief,
the sense of perfect safety, a square meal, and a good
glass of grog, had all combined to relax his vigilance
and depress his energy.
"When was this done?" asked the doctor, looking at the
wound.
"More than a week ago," replied Wicks, thinking singly
of his log.
"Hey?" cried the doctor, and he raised his hand and
looked the captain in the eyes.
"I don't remember exactly," faltered Wicks.
And at this remarkable falsehood the suspicions of the
doctor were at once quadrupled.
"By the way, which of you is called Wicks?" he asked
easily.
"What's that?" snapped the captain, falling white as
paper.
"Wicks," repeated the doctor; "which of you is he?
That's surely a plain question."
Wicks stared upon his questioner in silence.
"Which is Brown, then?" pursued the doctor.
Pages:
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676