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Buckland came walking into the wardroom with the surgeon following him, and everyone looked up questioningly--practically everyone stood up to hear the news.

"He's conscious" said Buckland, and looked round at Clive for him to elaborate on that statement.

"Weak" said Clive.

Bush looked round at Hornblower hoping that he would ask the questions that Bush wanted asked. Hornblower's face was set in a mask without expression. His glance was fixed penetratingly on Clive, but he did not open his mouth. It was Lomax, the purser, who asked the question in the end.

"Is he sensible?"

"Well----" said Clive, glancing sidelong at Buckland. Clearly the last thing Clive wanted to do was to commit himself definitely regarding the captain's sanity. "He's too weak at present to be sensible."

Lomax fortunately was inquisitive enough and bullheaded enough not to be deterred by Clive's reluctance.

"What about this concussion?" he asked. "What's it done to him?"

"The skull is intact" said Clive. "There are extensive scalp lacerations. The nose is broken. The clavicle--that's the collar-bone--and a couple of ribs. He must have fallen headfirst down the hatchway, as might be expected if he tripped over the coaming."