"MEETING THE CASE"
AT dinner that evening, a rather informal meal, at which the Head
and the housemasters discuss the wholly absorbing topic of boys, Dr.
Narfield related his interview with Desmond.
"By the way," he continued, addressing Mr. Collier, who sat next to
him, "have you noticed anything peculiar about Desmond?"
"He hasn't seemed quite up to the mark for some time," replied Mr.
Collier. "A rather troublesome cough----"
"Precisely," interrupted the Head. "That was the fact to which I was
going to refer. He's a big fellow obviously outgrowing his strength.
I don't like that cough. It's strange his people didn't notice it.
Some parents never do. However, Collier, without frightening the
lad, send him over to the sanatorium to-morrow morning and get Dr.
Anderson to run over him. I believe I mentioned that Sinclair was
leaving this term?"
"Yes, indeed," replied the sixth form housemaster. "And I'm
very sorry to hear it. We'll miss him in the next inter-school
sports."
Dr. Narfield sighed. Even years of experience of this sort of
thing--of promising pupils leaving just as they were doing sterling
work for the good and honour of the school--had not made him
indifferent to the continual changes that are inevitable.
"And just as he was showing promise of gaining his Matric," he added
gloomily. "Case of financial difficulties, I am informed. It's a
strange England nowadays, Collier. All ups and downs, and goodness
only knows what things are coming to. Yes, I'm sorry for Sinclair."
* * * * *
"Now hold your breath ... count ten ... say, 'Ah.'"
Dr. Anderson tapped Desmond with his stethoscope.
"Again .... Cough."
Tiny Desmond tried to cough, but without success. That irritating
cough of his had a nasty habit of asserting itself at very
inconvenient times, but now, when the doctor wanted him to cough, he
simply couldn't.
"All right, Desmond. Get your clothes on. I'll make you up a little
medicine. For the present I must keep you here."
"In the sanny, doctor!" exclaimed the astonished Tiny. "Why, sir, is
there anything very much wrong with me?"
The doctor smiled.
"You want to go into dock for a slight overhaul and refit, Desmond,"
he replied. "Nothing much, but if neglected, your cough will develop
into something serious. You've been maintaining a full head of steam
in a boiler with defective tubes. Those tubes haven't blown out yet,
but they might. You understand what I mean? Very well, then. It's
merely a matter of going slow, taking reasonable precautions, and
undergoing a sort of treatment, and we'll soon have you fit again."
Tiny Desmond nodded gravely. He was not deceived by the kindly
doctor's words. What he imagined was wrong with him for some time
past--he had tried over and over again to treat it lightly--was no
illusion. It was lung trouble.
* * * * *
"I ran over young Desmond this morning, Dr. Narfield," reported Dr.
Anderson. "It's no use mincing matters, although I tried,
ineffectually, I fear, to bluff the lad. One lung is badly affected;
the other shows signs of pulmonary weakness. The best thing to be
done is to send that youngster abroad--to a warm, dry climate. It
will mean you losing a promising pupil, but that's an assured thing
in any case. If he does go abroad there's a thundering good chance
that he will make a complete recovery. If he doesn't--well----"
Dr. Anderson turned his thumbs down. There was no mistaking the
significance of the act.
"I'll write to his parents at once," declared the Head. "I don't
suppose for one moment they have noticed Desmond's condition.
Parents rarely do; they trust implicitly to the school physician.
Fortunately, Anderson, we've found out in time, I trust. By the bye,
it might be a dispensation of Providence; how would East Africa suit
him?"
"Quite all right in the uplands of the interior," replied Dr.
Anderson. "The coast and the forest regions--no. Why do you ask?"
"Because not half an hour ago I received a letter from my brother
Herbert," explained the Head. "You know he left there to take up an
official appointment in Ceylon. His papers were cancelled for some
reason, and instead he was given a post as mining engineer at
Kilembonga, which is, I believe, about a hundred miles north-west of
Tabora. He asks if I know of a couple of Stockmere boys about to
leave school who would be willing to act as his assistants.
Curiously enough, he mentioned Desmond and Sinclair."
"The very thing!" ejaculated Dr. Anderson. "You were telling me
about young Sinclair--a hard case. I feel sorry for that lad."
The outcome of the conversation resulted in Colin Sinclair and Tiny
Desmond being called to the Head's study. Briefly Dr. Narfield
outlined his brother's request.
"It is a healthy life," he continued, "and there are excellent
prospects of qualifying for a well-paid profession. If you two
fellows would like to go, I will write to your respective parents,
and if they are agreeable there's no reason why you shouldn't be in
what was recently German East Africa in less than a couple of
months. But I suppose you want time to consider matters?"
Tiny looked at Colin, and Colin looked at Tiny. It was a case of
spontaneous mutual telepathy.
"No need for that, sir," declared Tiny, "we're on it--I mean, sir,
we are only too delighted."
"Rather, sir!" agreed Sinclair heartily. Then, suddenly remembering,
he added: "But I'm afraid, sir, the cost would be ... I don't mind
mentioning it before Desmond, because he knows. I've told him about
things at home. I'm afraid my people couldn't afford the expense of
a journey to Africa."
"That is a detail that can be gone into later," observed Dr.
Narfield mildly. "The question is, are you anxious to go?"
"Yes, sir," replied Colin simply.
"Very well," rejoined the Head. "That's all for the present. You may
go."
And with these somewhat ambiguous words ringing in their ears, the
two chums hurried out to discuss between themselves the portentous
event that loomed large on their mental horizon.
For his part, Dr. Narfield was as enthusiastic as the two lads over
the proposal. He had no doubt but that Desmond's people would
willingly give the required permission, especially in view of the
fact that the climate was in every way suited to effect Desmond's
complete recovery.
Sinclair's case was different. Although the Head was not aware by
the tone of Colin's father's letter of the extreme financial straits
in which Mr. Sinclair found himself, he was able to form a fairly
accurate opinion of the situation.
Had Mr. Desmond and Mr. Sinclair had the opportunity of comparing
notes, they would have seen an important difference in the text of
the Head's letter. In that to Colin's father Dr. Narfield concluded
with the bold announcement that "Your son's passage will be paid."
Nicholas Narfield believed in doing good turns by stealth.
And so, three days later, Tiny Desmond and Colin Sinclair were
informed that they were to hold themselves in readiness to sail on
S.S. _Huldebras_ for Cape Town, en route to the wilds of East
Africa.