An experience awaited him that was to guide him to new and
greater plans and to bigger things than he had yet dreamed of.
For a long while a rickety old rowboat had been lying off from the
_Albert_. A bronzed and bearded man sat alone in the boat, eyeing the
strange vessel as though afraid to approach nearer. He was thin and
gaunt. The evening was chilly, but he was poorly clad, and his
clothing was as ragged and as tattered as his old boat.
Finally, as though fearing to intrude, and not sure of his reception,
he hailed the _Albert_.
FOOTNOTES:
[A] A small fish about the size of a smelt.
V
THE RAGGED MAN IN THE RICKETY BOAT
Grenfell, who had been standing at the rail for some time watching the
decrepid old boat and its strange occupant, answered the hail
cheerily.
"Be there a doctor aboard, sir?" asked the man.
"Yes," answered Grenfell. "I'm a doctor."
"Us were hearin' now they's a doctor on your vessel," said the man
with satisfaction. "Be you a _real_ doctor, sir?"
"Yes," assured the Doctor. "I hope I am."
"They's a man ashore that's wonderful bad off, but us hasn't no
money," suggested the man, adding expectantly, "You couldn't come to
doctor he now could you, sir?"
"Certainly I will," assured the Doctor.
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