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Updated: June 24, 2025
The savoury whiffs which came out of the caboose as we passed made me feel more eager than ever for something to eat. Horner took us down to the half-deck, where we found Esdale, of whom he had spoken, seated on a chest reading. He was a pale, sickly-looking youth, taller a good deal than Jim. He put down his book and held out his hand to shake ours.
"His support," said Esdale, "although only a Fakir, may be as effectual as that of persons of more essential consequence. And, to say the truth, where the caprice of a despot is the question in debate, there is no knowing upon what it is best to reckon. Take my advice, my dear Hartley, leave this poor girl to her fate.
"I make him do just what I like," said Horner, in a contemptuous tone. "Take care that you don't treat him in the same way, for if he has too many masters he may be inclined to kick." Before long Esdale returned with a bowl of pea-soup, and a plate at the top of it containing some potatoes, and a piece of fat boiled pork. "Now fall to, youngsters," said Horner, in a patronising tone.
"Dr Cockle has seen him and says so," I answered boldly. "Tell him to come up, or I'll send a couple of hands to bring him neck and crop," thundered the captain. I was as determined as before not to tell Esdale, knowing that he would come if sent for. "Go below and bring up that lazy young rascal," shouted the captain to Tom Ringold and another man standing near him.
"And was that also a false report?" said Hartley, in breathless anxiety. "On my soul, I believe it was," answered Mr. Esdale. "They were friends, Europeans in an Indian court, and therefore intimate; but I believe nothing more.
"It's a punishment to him for the way he treated Esdale, and you, and Jim." "We have no right to think that," I answered; "even if he had treated me ten times worse than he has done, I should not wish him to suffer what must be to a man of his nature so terrible a misfortune." "Well, then, I suppose I must keep my opinion to myself," answered Horner.
"I warn you, Captain Hawkins, that you will cause the death of the lad if you compel him to be on deck in this weather," said the doctor firmly, as he turned to follow Tom and Esdale. The captain, making no remark, walked aft, and did not again interfere. Whether that sudden exposure to the cold had any serious effect I do not know, but Esdale after this got worse and worse.
Esdale still pleaded, but the doctor was peremptory. "It is his only chance," he said to me; "I cannot promise that he will live. He will, however, certainly die if he is exposed to this biting wind and constant rain.
At last the gale came to an end or rather we ran out of it. Esdale got somewhat better again, but I observed that he had changed greatly in appearance since we came on board. I had now to abandon all hopes of the ship putting back, but there was still a possibility of getting on board a homeward-bound vessel.
"On my word, I cannot say," answered Esdale, smiling; "we are all upon the adventure in India, more or less; but I do not see that the Begum Montreville is more so than the rest." "Why, that Amazonian dress and manner," said Hartley, "savour a little of the picaresca."
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