Page 47 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

CHAPTER IV. THE

HOSPITAL.

he hospital was nothing more nor less than a parti-
Ttioned portion of the lower deck, filched from the space
allotted to the soldiers. It ran fore and aft, coming close to
the stern windows, and was, in fact, a sort of artificial stern
cabin. At a pinch, it might have held a dozen men.
Though not so hot as in the prison, the atmosphere of the
lower deck was close and unhealthy, and the girl, pausing to
listen to the subdued hum of conversation coming from the
soldiers’ berths, turned strangely sick and giddy. She drew
herself up, however, and held out her hand to a man who
came rapidly across the misshapen shadows, thrown by the
sulkily swinging lantern, to meet her. It was the young sol-
dier who had been that day sentry at the convict gangway.
‘Well, miss,’ he said, ‘I am here, yer see, waiting for yer.’
‘You are a good boy, Miles; but don’t you think I’m worth
waiting for?’
Miles grinned from ear to ear.
‘Indeed you be,’ said he.
Sarah Purfoy frowned, and then smiled.
‘Come here, Miles; I’ve got something for you.’
Miles came forward, grinning harder.
The girl produced a small object from the pocket of her

For the Term of His Natural Life