PAGE 7
A Rash Experiment
by
“I wish the nurses ‘ud come, George,” he said, as they sat on the deck panting after their exertions; “this is a pretty mess if you like.”
“Seems like a judgment,” said the mate wearily.
“Halloa, there,” came a voice from the quay.
Both men turned and looked up at the speaker.
“Halloa,” said the skipper dully.
“What’s all this about small-pox?” demanded the new-comer abruptly.
The skipper waved his hand languidly towards the forecastle.
“Five of ’em down with it,” he said quietly. “Are you another doctor, sir?”
Without troubling to reply, their visitor jumped on board and went nimbly below, followed by the other two.
“Stand out of the light,” he said brusquely. “Now, my lads, let’s have a look at you.”
He examined them in a state of bewilderment, grunting strangely as the washed-out men submitted to his scrutiny.
“They’ve had the best of cold sponging,” said the skipper, not without a little pride.
“Best of what?” demanded the other.
The skipper told him, drawing back indignantly as the doctor suddenly sat down and burst into a hoarse roar of laughter. The unfeeling noise grated harshly on the sensitive ears of the sick men, and Joe Burrows, raising himself in his bunk, made a feeble attempt to hit him.
“You’ve been sold,” said the doctor, wiping his eyes.
“I don’t take your meaning,” said the skipper with dignity.
“Somebody’s been having a joke with you,” said the doctor. “Get up, you fools; you’ve got about as much small-pox as I have.”
“Do you mean to tell me–” began the skipper.
“Somebody’s been having a joke with you, I tell you,” repeated the doctor, as the men, with sundry oaths, half of relief, half of dudgeon, got out of bed and began groping for their clothes. “Who is it, do you think?”
The skipper shook his head, and the mate, following his lead, in duty bound, shook his; but a little while after, as they sat by the wheel smoking and waiting for the men to return to work the cargo out, they were more confidential. The skipper removed his pipe from his mouth, and, having eyed the mate for some time in silence, jerked his thumb in the direction of the railway station. The mate, with a woe-begone nod, assented.