Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-08-15
THE SURGEONS STORY.

The fire burned low in the open
hearth, the light from the waning
candle was growing dim, and the
Pickering shadows danced in wierd,
fantastic measure across the rough
puncheon floor.
1t was growing very late. Without
a sigh of the nightwind through the
willows along the creek made mournful
sentry as he slowly paced his long,
cold beat was the only sound that dis
turbed the silence.
| stirred in my chair, relit my pipe,
and turned rather impatiently to my
companion, the post surgeon.
''Doc, do you never get the blues in
this out-of-the-world place? Ugh! 1t
seems to me that | should go wild here
in month, and yet you have been here
nearly two years"
My friend laughed.
''MaiOr, your service was all in the
field, and therefore the humdrum of
post life-especially little post like
this-would wear on you, [ doubt not
But | don't get blue-no. What with
my duties, my reading and writing, an
occasional game of cards with the cap
tain and ride every day, | manage to
keep busy and to be tired every night.
/ was very glad though" he continued,
''to have the monotony of the life
broken by this visit of yours"
THANK you, old man, said /. ''But
if you really mean that, you must keep
me from the blues, too, or my visit
will be short. Tonight | am as
nervous as a cat. Give me story to
change the currents of my thoughts"
The surgeon remained silent for a
moment, looking intently in the dying
fire, then suddenly turning to me, he
said:
Very well, l will. Did I ever tell
you of my adventure in Hong-Kong
when | was acting on the o. 81 o.
steamship linePn
No" said L. Remember, I have
only seen you once since then, and but
for day at that"
''True. Well, this tale will fill your
mind with new thoughts at least.
I'm 1SS- found myself, one June
evening, on a steamer in the harbor of
Hong-Kong.
you will remember that the latitude
of that port is about the same as that
of Havana, so you can easily imagine
the evening in question to have been
warm one. 1t was warm, very warm,
and when we had passed the outer
forts, and were in the inner roadstead,
we came to anchor. and shortly after
ward, in a set of paiamas, / came on
deck, intending to pass the night in
my hammock which l could swing
from the davits of one of the after
boats.
Having so arranged my bed, I
clambered into it, lit a cigar, and fell
into the enjoyment of good night
smoke, swinging gently between sky
and sea, as the steamer rolled on the
gentle harbor swell, and thoroughly
enjoying the sweet smell of land.
Il listened, half asleep to the sounds
that came to my ears dim and distant
from the great city, clear and distinct
from the barbor about; the sound of
voices, OF moving boats, of throbbing
engines, of human life In its aggrega-
ton. Half asleep, say, for only now
and then did pay sufficient attention
to distinguish what | heard, and nv
ears were in general filled with a
drowsy, dreamy droning that had all
but lulled me to absolute slumber,
when suddenly was aroused by low
cry almost beneath me, and voice,
soft and fine, but quivering with fear
and fatigue, called:
'Sueamer! steamer Help, or
dlownr
There was no installing the China
ism of the hail, but / could not let a
pig-tail sink under our very bows, and
so arousing, l cried:
'''Aye, aye! In the water therel
Keep up! We'll have you out in mo-
mantf
''And springIng on deck, seized a
coil ofrope, flung its end haphazard in
to the sea, and an instant later felt it
grasped by the unfortunate in the
water below.
The cries of the man had been so
low as to arouse no one but myself
and the watch at the wheel, and with
the aid of that seaman, | hoisted my
prize on board and examined him.
"A small Chinaman, very wet and
very much exhausted, well-dresssd,
even to the hat which was tied on his
head. stood before US.
".Well?' said |.
.In a few well-chosen words his story
was told. He was the son of a mer-
chant at Fouchou, up the coast; had
been kidnapped week before by the
people on junk, and brought to
Hong-Hong, and had tonight escaped.
BE begged to be protected and be re-
turned to his father.
..As he told his story saw the sailo
at my side shrug his shoulders am
knew he did not believe it. But eithe
the glamour of the night or the soft
ness of the moon, or it may have beel
the innocence, youth, and positiv
beauty of the boy worked upon me
and | was determined to aid him
whether the tale was true or not
therefore took him to my cabin, pre-
scented him with some dry garments
and told him to be of good cheer. d
might sleep in peace; l would see hi
wrongs righted.
Gas I turned to leave him, he seize
nv hand and kissed it; and the so