When he mounted the
steps, Bahi led him to the side of her father's cot. The doctor,
however, interposed.
"Tell him he must not talk," he said to the interpreter; "the chief
is ill and must not be allowed to excite himself. But he can say
a few words, if he wants to."
The cot had been lowered to within a few inches of the deck in order
that the chief might watch his daughter as she trotted about and
romped with Ponto, who had now quite taken her into his friendship.
The chief's face expressed alarm when he first saw the great dog;
but when he saw how gentle the animal was, and how, when one of the
sailors placed the child on his back, it walked gravely up and down
the deck, wagging its tail as if pleased with its novel burden, he
was satisfied that no harm could come to her from this formidable
looking animal. He had first spoken a few words sharply to the
man in answer to his excuses, and, indeed, had the helmsman been
minding his business instead of looking at the ship, the collision
might have been prevented; but Hassan Jebash was at the present
moment so well contented with the recovery of his child that he
accepted the man's excuses, and the latter went back to his boat
evidently greatly relieved.
In a few days the chief began to show signs of impatience, and
through the interpreter constantly demanded of the doctor when he
would be well enough to leave.
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