"
"Oh, that is it; all right, come on board," and, leaning over, he
stretched out his hand to the native, who seized it, and in a moment
stood by his side on the deck, holding the head rope of his sampan
in his mouth.
"Davis," Harry said to the sailor who was standing two paces
away, "just go down to the wardroom, and tell the doctor, with my
compliments, that I shall be obliged if he will come on deck at
once. Say that it is something particular."
A minute later the doctor appeared. "I was just in the middle of
a rubber, Dick, and if you have not an uncommonly good reason for
calling me up I will make you smart for it, the first time you get
under my hands. Whom have we got here?"
"He is a messenger from Hassan; he mentioned our names and yours."
"Ah, I am glad of that," the doctor said, rubbing his hands
together; "they have been chaffing me in the wardroom about it,
and prophesying that I should never hear of him again. Well, what
does he say?"
"He has not said anything except our names, Doctor, and that he
comes from Hassan. I don't suppose he knows any more English, and
I thought we had better consult you, whether it would be best to
send for Soh Hay; he may have brought some message of importance."
"Right, lad. I think the most prudent thing will be to tell the
captain first.
Pages:
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68