Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-06-25

de job-old Cap'n Garner but lent
him hand, sab; to pass him de tools,
and hold on TO de slack, like"
Ibid you save the man."
"Oh yes, sab. Made fuss-rate stump
of it. Dere amt much bout it arter all
only takin' up de art'ries. You must
look out for yer turn-a-cat, sab. Be sure
you hab dat solid"
Come with me, DOCTOR" said l. I
was satisfied the old negro knew more
about the business than l did myself;
which was not saying much.
l had never in my short life-for was
but young man then-felt so great a
responsibility resting upon me. The cap
tain was impatient for me to attempt
the operation; debating that he could
not live many days as he then was. l
tried hard to screw up my courage, and
nerve myself for the undertaking. But
| shuddered as / cleaned up a fine saw,
which was to divide the bone; and the
tourniquet, as | handled it, seemed
already tightened round my own throat,
instead of the captains limb.
In vain the old negro sought to encour-
age me, by detailing how he had seen it
done. sold Cap'n GARNER" might have
been born surgeon, for aught l knew.
/ had heard of the famous Sweet family
of natural bone setters; and knew
that some people took these things
natural, as the boy did profane swearing.
But it didn't help my case at all. The
more I advanced with my preparations,
the more excited became. By the time
the whole fearful array of implements
was laid out on the cabin table, | was
completely unstrung; could not, at that
moment, have carved round of beef;
still less the flesh of my friend and ship
mate.
"Mass'r Chase" said my dark assist
ant, with a greenish kind of blush
Illuminating his open countenance,
81 t'ink-'scuse me, sab I t'ink we
ought to have little suthin' to take, fore
we begin; jist to steady de narves, like
Nerves, forsooth! he had no such thing
in his organization. His GOODNESS had
already aggravated me to the verge of
insanity, as l watched him feel the edges
of the tools like professional butcher.
His suggestion to take somethingn
was not bad one, however; and |
mixed a couple of ''fortifers" at once.
A slight good effect was soon percep-
tible in my case. AS for the black, he
was ready now to perform the operation
alone, con dnOre. AS he pushed the
little saw back and forth in the air, with
a kissing accompaniment, Iverily believe
he would have felt no more compunction
or emotion of any kind, in dividing the
captains hbia, than in cutting stick of
wood for his galley fire.
"Want me to put on de turn-a-cat,
sahP" he asked, with broad grin.
81 t'ink, sab, de pashunt ought to take a
little suthin' too-jjist to brace him up,
like"
l complied with this suggestion, of
course. The negro, as if conscious of
his own superiority in this affair, seemed
ready to take the whole business off my
hands-with one tr1hing exception: l
must "stand by to grab de art'ries!"
Its of no use," said I, with shud-
der. Captain Wyatt, l can't do this!"
I do it, sah!" said the cook, patron
izingly; at the same time fourishing
his knife like very Shylock, claiming
his bond. "rll do it, sab; you on'y jist
look out for de art'ries."
"Hold!" said I, as hail came family
down from aloft; then loud cry,
"WhereawayP" from the second mate,
and another faint response.
"Sail off the lee-beam, SIR" reported
Mr.. Cook, at the companion-way
Hard up, and wing her off, )" I roared.
run the signal up, to say we want to
speak him."
Say ne word, sab, when you's ready
to cut" said the old negro impatiently.
"Hold your hand! Drop that knife,
and be off to your galley!"
If we could speak the stranger, might
meet with some one who could advise
me; or, at least, could divide the
responsibility little.
The strange ship backed her maintop-
sail as soon as we headed off for her
and within half an hour l made out the
French ensign at her peak.
"Eureka!" I shouted. 81 can wash
my hands of the whole matter now"
The marine laws of England and
France require every vessel which carries
above twenty souls to have a surgeon on
board. Hence all British and French
whalers are thus provided, as / wei
knew.
; My invitation, as soon as I got within
hail, for the doctor to come on board
was at once responded to; and | ma,
safely say, that | never grasped the hant
of any human being, however dear tt
me, with greater fervor than did tha
of DR.. Chandleur, surgeon of th,
Garonne He was a little dried-up man
with a great deal more hair under hi
head than above it; and every w inkl
in his face was most intensely French
But at that moment could have hugge,
: him to my heart, as if he had been
never mind who / mean.
DR.. Chandleur examined the suffere
6 with professional gravity; felt his pulse