rode back for more to make sure of taking our gentlemen alive. And we’ve lost three out of four of ‘em, and have still to lay hands on the gold! I suppose you didn’t know there was any aboard ?” he asked abruptly.
“Not before tonight.”
“Nor did we till the Devoren came in with letters last week, a hundred and thirty days out. She should have been in a month before you, but she got amongst the ice around the Horn. There was a letter of advice about the gold, saying it would probably go in the Lady
hand again, and his brow wrinkled at its heat. He asked for the other hand to feel my pulse. I had to drop my letter to comply.
“I wish to goodness there was something I could do for you,” he said. “Would you - would you care to see a doctor?”
I shook my head, and could have smiled at his visible relief.