Dead Man's Land Part 7

"I am glad to hear it, boy. Then there's some excuse for me. Well, doctor, I suppose you had better go and see this fellow. I will trust to your common sense. Here, stop. You boys, has this fellow anybody here who will give him a character?"

"Yes," they exclaimed together; "the British Consul."

"Humph! Come, that sounds respectable. Well, I don't mean to stir out till we start up country. I'd go to-night if I could. And I leave it to you to see into this matter. It wouldn't be Christian-like, would it, not to lend the poor fellow a hand. There, as I said before, I trust to you, _carte blanche_, in that sort of thing to do what you think best."

"Thank you, Sir James," said the doctor gravely.

"Oh, you thoroughly approve of what I have said, then?"

"Thoroughly, sir, and I feel very proud of our boys."

And so it came to pa.s.s that Daniel Mann--after the doctor had seen him and had had an interview with the British Consul--was prescribed for with the news that he would be taken upon the expedition. Thanks to this intelligence, he looked at the end of two days quite a different man, even after hearing from the two keepers the anything but cheering words that they thought the governor must be mad.

Two days later the party, bag and baggage, were on their way up country to the extreme point, the rail head, so to speak, of civilisation--the spot where the advance guard of British troops kept back the black wave of savagedom, and where waggons and bullocks were to be purchased and the career of wild adventure was to begin.

CHAPTER FIVE.

DAN'S DOUBTS.

It had been a long slow journey, but every day as they ascended, the weather, though hot, was tempered by crisp breezes which the doctor declared to be a joy to breathe.

"Health, boys," he said. "Why, can't you feel that you are growing and enjoying life? If you want any proof of the healthiness of the country, look at that sailor."

"Yes; isn't it wonderful!" cried Mark.

"Yes," said Dean; "uncle was talking about it only this morning. He asked me if I didn't see how his colour was altering."

"Oh, that's only the sun," said Mark.

"Think so?" said the doctor, smiling. "I think it's more than that."

"But it was getting out of that nasty damp oven of a port," said Mark.

"I felt horrible there, and as if I should be ill if we stopped."

"So did I," added Dean; "and didn't it make--" The boy paused for a moment as if hesitating.

"Well, didn't it make what?"

"--Mark disagreeable," said the boy, with a merry, mischievous look.

"Oh, come, I like that!" cried Mark. "Why, you must have noticed, doctor. Dean was nearly always half asleep, and when he was awake he did nothing but find fault."

A short time after, when the boys were alone, Mark suddenly turned sharply upon his cousin with, "I say, why did you stop short when we were talking to the doctor?"

Dean turned rather red.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"What do I mean? You know."

"I know?"

"Yes; you were going to say that father was dreadfully cross all the time. Come, confess."

"Well," said Dean hesitating, "I am afraid I did think something of the kind."

"Afraid! Why, you did, you beggar, and then packed it all on to my shoulders. Hullo, here comes Mann--man--handy man--Daniel Mann--Dan Mann. What a rum name! Hasn't been very handy yet, though."

"I say, don't! You will have him hear what you say."

"I don't care. Let him! I wasn't saying any harm about him, poor chap.

He's coming to us--wants to say something, I suppose."

The conversation was taking place just outside the so-called hotel, though the boys had dubbed it the tin tabernacle--a rough, hastily-built house that had been fitted up by an enterprising trader, where the party found temporary accommodation.

"Well, Daniel? Feel better?"

"Dan, please, sir. My mates never put any `yel' at the end of my name."

"That isn't the end," said Mark sharply. "That's the middle. Well, do you feel better?"

"Feel better, sir?" said the man, whose miserably pallid face was overspread for the moment by a warm glow, while the tears of grat.i.tude stood in his eyes. "Why, every morning since we came up I have seemed to be coming to life again."

"Well, don't cry about it," said Mark shortly.

"Oh, that's nothing, sir," said the man, using the back of both fists to brush away the signs of his emotion. "That's only being so weak, sir.

Don't you take any notice of that. You see, I have been going backwards and getting quite like a kid again. And oh, gentlemen, it was a lucky day for me when I run against you two."

"Stop!" cried Mark angrily. "This is the third time you have begun talking to us like this, and we won't stand it; will we, Dean?"

"No, that we won't," cried his cousin. "Here, Daniel--Dan, I mean--"

"Thank you, sir. That's better."

"You wait a bit. I had not finished," continued Mark. "If ever you say another word to us, whether we are together or whether we are alone, about being grateful, and that sort of thing, I shall say you are a canting humbug--at least, my cousin will; I shouldn't like to be so harsh."

Dean dug his elbow into his cousin's ribs at this.

"And we don't want to think that of you," continued Mark. "I say, though, you do look a lot better."

"I am, sir," said the man, smiling. "And now we have got up here, sir, I want you to ask Sir James and the doctor to set me to work."

"Why, you are too weak yet."

"Weak, sir? Not so weak as that. 'Sides, doing a bit of hauling or something of that kind will help to get me in sailing trim once more.

Why, arter all these long weeks lying by and feeling that I should never be a man again--why, the very sound of doing something sets one longing."