Inez Garabella had spoken the truth when she said that the strong resemblance between Walter and Captain Ben made her take an interest in the young sailor. She had gotten home from Manila but a few days before, and the memory of what the captain had done for her at the deserted monastery was still fresh in her mind.
"No matter if they are utter strangers, I will do what I can for the poor boy," she told herself. "He may be a prisoner of war, but he shall not be used worse than a lame caribao," and she set to work to nurse Walter without delay.
As the others had said, the young tar was in for a fever, brought on partly by the wound he had suffered and partly by his travelling in the heat. As soon as he came out of his semi-unconscious state he began to rave and throw himself, and it took the lady of the house and the strongest serving-maid to hold him down.
"Don't leave me!" he would cry. "Oh, Si! Palmer! don't leave me! Shoot me, if you wish, but don't leave me!" And then his mood would change. "See! see! the ship is sailing and the natives are coming back! Run, run, or we'll be caught and slaughtered. Where is the water, Si?
