On Parole

           Iwaswakened—indeed,wewereallwakened,forIcouldseeeventhesentinelshakehimselftogetherfromwherehehadfallenagainstthedoor-post—byaclear,heartyvoicehailingusfromthemarginofthewood:

           "Blockhouse,ahoy!"itcried."Here’sthedoctor."

           Andthedoctoritwas.AlthoughIwasgladtohearthesound,yetmygladnesswasnotwithoutadmixture.Irememberedwithconfusionmyinsubordinateandstealthyconduct,andwhenIsawwhereithadbroughtme—amongwhatcompanionsandsurroundedbywhatdangers—Ifeltashamedtolookhimintheface.

           Hemusthaveriseninthedark,forthedayhadhardlycome;andwhenIrantoaloopholeandlookedout,Isawhimstanding,likeSilveroncebefore,uptothemid-legincreepingvapour.

           "You,doctor!Topo’themorningtoyou,sir!"criedSilver,broadawakeandbeamingwithgoodnatureinamoment."Brightandearly,tobesure;andit’stheearlybird,asthesayinggoes,thatgetstherations.George,shakeupyourtimbers,son,andhelpDr.Liveseyovertheship’sside.Alla-doin’well,yourpatientswas—allwellandmerry."

           Sohepatteredon,standingonthehilltopwithhiscrutchunderhiselbowandonehanduponthesideofthelog-house—quitetheoldJohninvoice,manner,andexpression.

           "We’vequiteasurpriseforyoutoo,sir,"hecontinued."We’vealittlestrangerhere—he!he!Anooboarderandlodger,sir,andlookingfitandtautasafiddle;slep’likeasupercargo,hedid,rightalongsideofJohn—stemtostemwewas,allnight."