Pagina 176 de 416

For the first twenty-four hours after being revived he did

nothing but sleep, and awoke to find Nellie Tanner beside his

bunk nursing him. Since then it had been merely a matter of

patience until his exhausted body had recuperated from the shock.

For once Nellie had command of the Rosan, and everything stood

aside for her patient. The delicacies that issued from the galley

after she had occupied it an hour, and that went directly to

Code, almost had the result of inciting a mutiny among all hands;

terms of settlement being the retirement of the old cook and

installation of this new find.

Code ripped open the packet. He stared in amazement at the yellow

bills. Then he discovered the letter and began to read it.

Despite the healthy red of his weather-beaten face, a tide of

color surged up over it.