At the best it means a couple of months or so on his back.

No, I think the cut on his head isn't serious, although it has knocked him silly for a while." At length the horrid work was done, and the doctor, who had to return to a confinement case in the village, departed.

Before he went he told Morris that he hoped to be back by five o'clock.

He promised also that before his return he would call in at the Sailor's Home to see that the crew were comfortable, and discover what he could of the details of the catastrophe.

Meanwhile for his part, Morris undertook to watch in the sick-room.
For nearly three hours, while the drug retained his grip of him, the patient remained comatose.