Таємничий острів

           Thesuppurationwasmuchlessabundant,andthankstotheincessantcarebywhichhewassurrounded!—Herbertreturnedtolife,andhisfeverabated.Hewasbesidessubjectedtoaseverediet,andconsequentlyhisweaknesswasandwouldbeextreme;buttherewasnowantofrefreshingdrinks,andabsoluterestwasofthegreatestbenefittohim.CyrusHarding,GideonSpilett,andPencrofthadbecomeveryskilfulindressingthelad’swounds.Allthelineninthehousehadbeensacrificed.Herbert’swounds,coveredwithcompressesandlint,werepressedneithertoomuchnortoolittle,soastocausetheircicatrizationwithouteffectinganyinflammatoryreaction.Thereporterusedextremecareinthedressing,knowingwelltheimportanceofit,andrepeatingtohiscompanionsthatwhichmostsurgeonswillinglyadmit,thatitisperhapsrarertoseeadressingwelldonethananoperationwellperformed.

           Intendays,onthe22ndofNovember,Herbertwasconsiderablybetter.Hehadbeguntotakesomenourishment.

           Thecolorwasreturningtohischeeks,andhisbrighteyessmiledathisnurses.Hetalkedalittle,notwithstandingPencroft’sefforts,whotalkedincessantlytopreventhimfrombeginningtospeak,andtoldhimthemostimprobablestories.HerberthadquestionedhimonthesubjectofAyrton,whomhewasastonishednottoseenearhim,thinkingthathewasatthecorral.Butthesailor,notwishingtodistressHerbert,contentedhimselfbyreplyingthatAyrtonhadrejoinedNeb,soastodefendGraniteHouse.