Take care that you don't hurt his
head. So--that's right; lean back against the head of the bunk, and
rest his head against your shoulder. Gently, girl, gently! I reckon
the poor boy is aching all over with weakness. There, that's all right!
Are you pretty comfortable, Walter? Good! Now then, all that you've
got to do is, just drink this broth right away, rest yourself for a
spell, and then I'll come along again and dress that wound on your
head."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

THE GALE.

Another week elapsed before I could convince Mrs Vansittart that I was
strong enough to be permitted to rise from my bunk and sit in a chair
for a short time; but after that my recovery was rapid. My wound healed
nicely, my strength returned, and five days later I was able to dress
and, with assistance, make my way up on to the main-deck, where Julius,
helped by the others--with a forethought for which I should certainly
never have given him credit--had rigged up a sort of makeshift awning
for my especial benefit. I learned, with the utmost satisfaction, that
since the memorable morning of the junk's appearance the boy had behaved
with almost unbelievable goodness. The talking-to which he had received
from his sister seemed to have awakened his better nature, and now they
assured me that--as indeed it seemed--he was everything that could be
desired. Of one thing at least there could be no possible mistake: his
strange antipathy to me had entirely vanished, and he now seemed anxious
to be as friendly and agreeable as before he had been objectionable.

It was nearly six weeks after the appearance of the junk when at length
I felt strong enough to resume my boat-building operations, and even
then I was only able at first to do such comparatively light work as
shaping and planing planks. Gradually, however, I got back again to the
heavier work which came from time to time when it was necessary to shift
the framework of the hull while working upon it. Every day witnessed a
certain amount of progress, until at length the open shell was finished
and caulked. Then by our combined efforts we placed the boat in
position ready for launching, bows first, off our sloping deck, since
she was now so heavy that no further lifting would be possible. This
brought the time on to five months and a few days from the date of the
wreck, during the whole of which period we had been favoured with
glorious weather, except for a few days of calms, ac