True Blue | Page 9

were raving and shrieking in the delirium of fever, and others,
worn out by its attacks, were sunk in stupor from which they were not
to awake. Then the Captain visited the berth of the two women. Mrs
Bolton was still struggling in a vain attempt to ward off the disease, and
endeavouring to nurse poor little Billy; but she could scarcely lift her
hand to feed him, and evidently a sickness and faintness was stealing
over her.
The Captain said nothing, but going out, sent a boy to call Paul Pringle.
He soon returned with Paul, who, stooping down, said quietly, "Here,
Mrs Bolton, you feels sick and tired, I know you does. You've had hard
times looking after Betty Snell, and I'll just dandle the youngster for
you a bit. You know you can have him again when you feels better and
rested like."
Thus appealed to, poor Nancy gave up the baby to Paul, who dandled it
about before her for a minute; then as she was casting an affectionate
glance at it, he disappeared along the deck with his charge. It was the
last look she ever took of the infant she had nursed with almost a
mother's care. Her husband was sent for. In a short time she was raving,
and before that hour the next day both she and Betty were no longer
among the living. Their loss was severely felt, not only by their
husbands, but by all the crew. They and forty of the men were
committed to the deep before the termination of the passage.

At last the Terrible reached Gros Islet Bay, in the Island of Saint Lucia,
that island having been captured by the English from the French. In a
short time a considerable fleet collected there, under Admiral Sir
George Rodney and Rear-Admiral Hyde Parker. Still the fever
continued on board the Terrible and several other ships.
"Nothing but the fire of the enemy will cure us, Sir George, I fear,"
observed Captain Penrose when paying a visit one day on board the
flagship.
"Then, my dear Penrose, I hope that we shall not have long to wait, for
they are collecting in force, I hear, round the Island of Martinique; and
the moment the fleet is ready for sea, we'll go out and have a brush with
them," was the Admiral's answer.
This news was received with joy by every man in the fleet, and all
exerted themselves more than ever to hasten its equipment. The
Captain had some idea of leaving little Billy on shore, but both
Freeborn and Pringle begged so hard that he might be allowed to
remain that the Captain gave up the point.
"I don't know how long I may be with the little chap," observed poor
Will. "It would break my heart to be separated from him; and if we go
into action, we'll stow him away safe in the hold, and he'll be better off
there than among foreign strangers on shore who don't care a bit for
him."
There was much truth in this remark, and so little True Blue still
continued under charge of his rough-looking protectors. It is
extraordinary how well and tenderly they managed to nurse him and
feed him, and how carefully they washed him and put on his tiny
garments. Paul Pringle was even a greater adept than his own father;
and more than once the Captain could scarcely refrain from laughing as
he saw the big, huge-whiskered quartermaster in a side cabin, seated on
one bucket, with another full of salt water before him, an apron, made
out of a piece of canvas, round his waist, and a large sponge, with a
piece of soap in his hand, washing away at the little fellow. The baby
seemed to enjoy the cold water amazingly, and kicked and splashed

about, and spluttered and cooed with abundant glee, greatly to Paul's
delight.
"Ah, I knowed it. He'll be a regular salt from truck to kelson!" he
exclaimed, looking at the little fellow affectionately, and holding him
up so as to let his head just float above water. "He'll astonish them
some of these days. Depend on't, Will," he added, turning to Freeborn,
who had come in to have a look at his child.
The Captain had directed the hammocks of the two men to be slung in
this cabin, and little True Blue had a cot slung along close to the deck;
so that if by chance he had tumbled out, he would not have been much
the worse for it. As the father and his friend were in different watches,
they were able, under ordinary circumstances, to relieve each other in
nursing the baby; but when any heavy work was to be done, and the
services of