Таинственный остров

           Theyhadone,fornaturehadgenerouslylavishedit.Theyhadcoldwater,thatistosay,themostpowerfulsedativethatcanbeemployedagainstinflammationofwounds,themostefficacioustherapeuticagentingravecases,andtheonewhichisnowadoptedbyallphysicians.Coldwaterhas,moreover,theadvantageofleavingthewoundinabsoluterest,andpreservingitfromallprematuredressing,aconsiderableadvantage,sinceithasbeenfoundbyexperiencethatcontactwiththeairisdangerousduringthefirstdays.

           GideonSpilettandCyrusHardingreasonedthuswiththeirsimplegoodsense,andtheyactedasthebestsurgeonwouldhavedone.CompressesoflinenwereappliedtopoorHerbert’stwowounds,andwerekeptconstantlywetwithcoldwater.

           Thesailorhadatfirstlightedafireinthehut,whichwasnotwantinginthingsnecessaryforlife.Maplesugar,medicinalplants,thesamewhichtheladhadgatheredonthebanksofLakeGrant,enabledthemtomakesomerefreshingdrinks,whichtheygavehimwithouthistakinganynoticeofit.Hisfeverwasextremelyhigh,andallthatdayandnightpassedwithouthisbecomingconscious.

           Herbert’slifehungonathread,andthisthreadmightbreakatanymoment.Thenextday,the12thofNovember,thehopesofHardingandhiscompanionsslightlyrevived.Herberthadcomeoutofhislongstupor.Heopenedhiseyes,herecognizedCyrusHarding,thereporter,andPencroft.Heutteredtwoorthreewords.Hedidnotknowwhathadhappened.