"Is there sickness in the tent," whispered a soft voice in his very
ear, "that Dr. Battius is called to visit it at such an hour?"
So soon as the heart of the naturalist had returned from its hasty
expedition into his throat, as one less skilled than Dr. Battius in
the formation of the animal would have been apt to have accounted for
the extraordinary sensation with which he received this unlooked-for
interruption, he found resolution to reply; using, as much in terror
as in prudence, the same precaution in the indulgence of his voice.
"My worthy Nelly! I am greatly rejoiced to find it is no other than
thee. Hist! child, hist! Should Ishmael gain a knowledge of our plans,
he would not hesitate to cast us both from this rock, upon the plain
beneath. Hist! Nelly, hist!"
As the Doctor delivered his injunctions between the intervals of his
ascent, by the time they were concluded, both he and his auditor had
gained the upper level.
"And now, Dr. Battius," the girl gravely demanded, "may I know the
reason why you have run so great a risk of flying from this place,
without wings, and at the certain expense of your neck?"
"Nothing shall be concealed from thee, worthy and trusty Nelly--but
are you certain that Ishmael will not awake?"
"No fear of him; he will sleep until the sun scorches his eyelids.
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