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Chapter 7
“Flithimwhereyeplease!”
Thereuponthecaptainascendedtheladder;andI,whohadlainsilentthroughoutthisstrangeconversation,beheldMr.Riachturnafterhimandbowaslowastohiskneesinwhatwasplainlyaspiritofderision.Eveninmythenstateofsickness,Iperceivedtwothings:thatthematewastouchedwithliquor,asthecaptainhinted,andthat(drunkorsober)hewasliketoproveavaluablefriend.
Fiveminutesafterwardsmybondswerecut,Iwashoistedonaman’sback,carrieduptotheforecastle,andlaidinabunkonsomesea-blankets;wherethefirstthingthatIdidwastolosemysenses.
Itwasablessedthingindeedtoopenmyeyesagainuponthedaylight,andtofindmyselfinthesocietyofmen.Theforecastlewasaroomyplaceenough,setallaboutwithberths,inwhichthemenofthewatchbelowwereseatedsmoking,orlyingdownasleep.Thedaybeingcalmandthewindfair,thescuttlewasopen,andnotonlythegooddaylight,butfromtimetotime(astheshiprolled)adustybeamofsunlightshonein,anddazzledanddelightedme.Ihadnosoonermoved,moreover,thanoneofthemenbroughtmeadrinkofsomethinghealingwhichMr.Riachhadprepared,andbademeliestillandIshouldsoonbewellagain.Therewerenobonesbroken,heexplained:“Aclourontheheadwasnaething.Man,”saidhe,“itwasmethatgaveitye!”
HereIlayforthespaceofmanydaysacloseprisoner,andnotonlygotmyhealthagain,butcametoknowmycompanions.
