Dr. Messinger said nothing, but strained the tea clear of leaves by pouring it slowly from one mug into another; he stirred into it a large spoonful of condensed milk.
“See if you can drink this.”
Tony drank it with pleasure and ate some biscuits.
“Are we going on today?” he asked.
“We'll think about it.”
He took the mugs down to the bank and washed them in the river.
When he came back he said; “I think I'd better explain things.
It's no use your thinking you are cured because you are out of fever for one day.
That's the way it goes.
One day fever and one day normal.
It may take a week or it may take much longer.
That's a thing we've got to face.
I can't risk taking you in the canoe.
You nearly upset us several times the day before yesterday.”
“I thought there was someone there I knew.”
“You thought a lot of things.
It'll go on like that.
Meanwhile we've provisions for about ten days.
There's no immediate anxiety there but it's a thing to remember.
Besides what you need is a roof over your head and constant nursing.
If only we were at a village …”
“I'm afraid I'm being a great nuisance.”
“That's not the point.
The thing is to find what is best for us to do.”
But Tony felt too tired to think; he dozed for an hour or so.
When he awoke Dr. Messinger was cutting back the bush further.
“I'm going to fix up the tarpaulin as a roof.”
(He had marked this place on his map Temporary Emergency Base Camp.)
Tony watched him listlessly.
Presently he said,
“Look here, why don't you leave me here and go down the river for help?”
“I thought of that.
It's too big a risk.”
That afternoon Brenda was back at Tony's side and he was shivering and tossing in his hammock.
When he was next able to observe things, Tony noted that there was a tarpaulin over his head, slung to the tree-trunks.
He asked,
“How long have we been here?”
“Only three days.”
“What time is it now?”
“Getting on for ten in the morning.”
“I feel awful.”
Dr. Messinger gave him some soup.
“I am going downstream for the day,” he said, “to see if there's any sign of a village.
I hate leaving you but it's a chance worth taking.
I shall be able to get a long way in the canoe now it's empty.
Lie quiet.
Don't move from the hammock.
I shall be back before night.
I hope with some Indians to help.”
“All right,” said Tony and fell asleep.