Adventure, November 1915 — page 181: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Gold at Sea Then came a great roaring, and things went black. xX er \| FOR a long time things were blur- red and topsy-turvy. At times I ay S heard voices. A long ways back, in the beginning, a voice said, “He is-built like an ox, with a, constitution to match. Otherwise, he would be gone ere now.” Somehow, those words seemed to matter immensely. Another time, a second voice said, ‘‘Oh, you must fight—you must fight!’ That voice sounded like stirring music in my ears. I recognized it, but I could not reach behind it But I know I answered, “Yes, I must fight.” At times I knew intolerable pain. And a cool, soft hand would rest upon my fore- head, and the pain would flee. I loved that hand. And then I opened my eyes and found myself staring at a bare, white ceiling. Gradually, I became aware of an iron bed- stead, of a bare wall, and of the mingled odor of roses and disinfectant. I tried to think, but was too tired. I awoke again to full consciousness. I knew I was in a hospital, somewhere. I knew I was wounded in the chest. I re- membered all that had gone before—the Wasp, the beach, Dacy, the shot! It all came to me with a flash, in my awakening moment. An instant later I was staring up at a gray-bearded, merry-faced man who was leaning over me. “How do you feel?” he exclaimed. “Fine,” I answered, and I was astonished at the thinness of my voice. He nodded with energetic satisfaction. “She did it!” he beamed. ‘Ah, what a nurse—what a nurse! Sheis much too good to be wasted upon you, young man!’’’ “Where is she?” I asked; I knew of whom he spoke. “She is asleep. Why shouldn’t she be asleep? Been at your side night and day for two weeks. If she left, you blatted like a calf for its mother. Wore her out—I sent her to bed. Are you hungry?” I found I was voraciously hungry. “All right,” he said. ‘“T’ll send you your dinner—and, if you promise not to get ex- cited, a visitor.” I promised, and he turned away. The door closed.. I turned my head and occu- pied myself with inspecting the bare little hospital room I found myself in. 179. In a little while a lad dressed in a Navy © uniform came in. .He carried a very large tray, and upon it was a very small bowl of broth, which he informed me was my din- ner. I swallowed it eagerly, and he de- parted, grinning at my indignant demands for food. I tested my strength and found myself wofully weak. I could not sit up, though I could move my arms well enough. I wait- ed impatiently for the appearance of my visitor. I thought I knew who it would be, and I was in a fever to see her. And then the door opened, and Dooin walked in. It was a disappointment, but not a keen one. I gave him an eager wel- come. “Hello, old Cockledoo!’’ was his cheery response. “I’ve come to pay you a visit.” It was a rehabilitated Dooin I saw. His impudent smile had returned to his face, and in figure he was sartorially resplendent. His wardrobe hit the eye as a circus-band hits the ear. Nothing retirmg about Mr. Dooin’s checks, and multi-colored cravat. “When is Mary coming?” I asked him. “T would like to see her.” “There you go!” he cried. ‘Leave the poor girl rest. You have had her at your side for two weeks. By golly, Mac, I take my hat off to Miss Morrison—she is a brick! And to think I misjudged her at first!”’ He drew a chair to my side and sat down. “It was nip and tuck with you,” he add- ed. “She pulled you through — even the doctors admit it.” “What place is this?” I asked. “What has happened—Dacy, and the gold?” ' “This is the Naval hospital, at Norfolk,’ he replied. “I have only a few minutes with you, so I guess I had better hustle with the news. You were shot through the body by my gun, during the tussle with Dacy on the beach. Imagine an old stager like me being caught like that! But I never saw a man move as quickly as Dacy did when he made that j jump. “T got a crack on hej jaw at the same in- stant, and was knocked cold. When I came around, the little lady was kneeling by your side, stanching the flow of blood and pray- ing for your life in a way to melt your heart. And the rescue party from the Flusher was just arriving. “The Flusher was the ship that sunk the Gomichbooks (E@) io. Tae tT Prshed