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Page 79
"I did not dare write sooner," she continued, "for we had no hope that
he could live; but now he is again conscious, and has recognized me.
The doctors talk of sending him north as soon as he can be moved; but,
remembering the horrors of the _Seneca_ and the _Concho_, I dread the
voyage for him even more than I do the pestilent air of this awful
hospital. In fact, I am in despair, and know not what is best to be
done."
"I know!" exclaimed Rollo Van Kyp, as Dulce, with tear-filled eyes,
finished reading this pitiful note. "He must be brought back on the
_Nun_. Mr. Norris, she leaves New York to-morrow with a fresh lot of
nurses for Santiago, and if you will only take the run down on her you
can bring the dear old chap back in comfort."
Mr. Norris hesitated a moment. "Do you realize," he asked, "that if
your yacht brings back a single yellow-fever patient it may never be
safe to use her again?"
"My dear sir!" cried Rollo, "if she were all that I had in the world
she would still be at the service of my dearest friend."
So Mr. Norris thankfully accepted the young millionaire's offer, and
sailed the very next day for Santiago.
A week later a Red Cross nurse, worn and wearied almost to the point of
exhaustion by her days and nights of caring for sick and dying
soldiers, sat in a Santiago hospital beside one of her patients, gently
fanning him. His eyes were closed, and she hoped that he slept. As
she watched him her own eyes slowly filled with tears; for she did not
believe he would ever gain sufficient strength to bear removal from
that house of sorrow. The air of the ward was hot, damp, and lifeless.
Sickening odors rising from the streets of the filthy city drifted in
through its open windows. The whole atmosphere of the place was
depressing, and suggestive of suffering that could only end with death.
"Poor Ridge!" she murmured bitterly to herself. "After all your
splendid work, it is cruel to leave you here to die, deserted and
forgotten!"
Just then the patient opened wide his eyes, and an expression of eager
anticipation flitted across his white face. "Dad is coming," he
whispered. "I hear his footstep. Oh, Spence, he is here, and will
take us home!"
The nurse listened, but heard only the moans of other sufferers, and
thinking that this one had dreamed of his father's coming, tried to
soothe him with hopeful promises. Then, all at once, she uttered a
little cry of joy, for at the far end of the long white ward she saw
one of the house surgeons escorting a familiar figure. In another
minute Mr. Norris, seeming to bring with him a breath of bracing
northern air, stood beside his son's cot.
"I thank God and you, Spence Cuthbert, that my boy is still alive!" he
cried. "And now, how soon can we take him north? I have Van Kyp's
yacht waiting out here in the harbor, and we can start at a moment's
notice."
"I believe I could go this very minute, dad," said Ridge, his voice
already strengthened with hope and happiness. "But, father," he added,
anxiously, "we must take Spence with us; for she has promised to stay
with me as long as I need her, and I know I couldn't travel without
her."
"Of course we will take her, son, and keep her, too, just as long as we
can."
For three days longer Ridge lay on that cot, gaining strength with each
moment of renewed hope and eager anticipation. During this time Mr.
Norris occupied the intervals of rest from watching beside his son with
visiting the battle-fields near the city over which the young trooper
had so bravely fought. On these expeditions he was accompanied and
guided by a Cuban named del Concha, recommended by General Wood, to
whom he had rendered valuable service by the giving of intelligent and
honestly patriotic advice. When del Concha discovered that the
American se�or whom he was asked to guide was father to his friend, the
brave _teniente_ Norris, he was overjoyed to be of assistance to him,
and completely won the elder gentleman's heart by praise of his son and
stories of the latter's exploits while executing his dangerous mission
among the Spaniards of Cuba. Del Concha also told of himself; and,
among other things, that, on the very day he had learned of Santiago's
surrender, he had married his sweetheart, the brave girl who had
assisted Ridge to escape from the Holguin prison, and who was now very
nearly recovered from her wound.
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