"I don’t know what happened to them," said Dr. Welch. "They must have been caught in that wave somehow. They have both had a terrible battering."
"Well, by Heaven!" exclaimed the physician. He recovered himself in a moment. "I think we’ll have him all right in a day or two. That’s a nasty scrape he got on the right arm. The flesh is torn nearly to the bone, but the salt water has helped it, and as soon as it heals he will be all right. He is suffering now from fever brought on by the exposure. I have no doubt he saved that woman, and for a man to bring himself, let alone another human being, through a tidal wave like that--well, what he wants now is food, sleep, and complete rest. If you gentlemen will turn him over to me, I’ll look after him, and when he wakes up, I’ll guarantee he will be able to tell you all about it."
The doctor’s advice was good. There was confidence in his bearing and in his words, which carried conviction to the two men. They withdrew and sat down together in the cabin, while the doctor, summoning his mate and a steward, busied himself with his patient.
"Well," said Maynard, in anything but a joyful manner, "our cruise has been a success."
"In so far as finding Beekman," was the equally melancholy answer, "but if the yacht sinks we won’t have bettered his condition appreciably."
"No, of course, not," returned Maynard, thoughtfully. "Yet, I have great confidence in Captain Weatherby. I shan’t give up hope until I feel her sinking under us."
"The only thing to be decided now is, shall we tell Stephanie?" he went on.
"Tell me what?" asked the girl, coming into the room and overhearing the last words.
"I--er--" Harnash hesitated. "About our castaways, the man we picked up--"
"Dr. Welch guarantees it," answered her father. "He has been badly buffeted, his arm is cut and bruised, and he is prostrated from physical and nervous strain."
"No, but Welch thinks he will be when he wakes up. How about your patient?"
"She’s all right. She’s conscious and Dr. Welch says that she only needs nourishment and rest. She’s asleep now, I imagine."
"Who is she? What is she?" asked her father.
"She didn’t say a word. She must be a Polynesian, although she looks strangely like a European, especially since we clothed her for the night."