The record-union., 1899-11-12

waited a moment. Il am all right now,
said the man. and shall be out to-mor-
row, and back at my work again soon.
1 hope you may have good luck and not
get i'll yourself" 1t was his way of
thanking the lad. Soon after the doc
tor made his round for the night, and
would not come again unless sent for
to his house in the city. Thesapothe-
cary was close at hand, and came in
from time to time to see if anything
was required.
The hospital was very quiet at first,
and presently Vishnu, sitting huddled
in a corner wrapped in his blanket,
fell asleep. Once in the night a woman
who wanted something came and
touched him on the shoulder, but he
did not wake; he was sleeping very
heavily, and shivered from time to time.
When the dim gray morning light stole
in and the patients began to- rouse
themselves there were calls for the
ward boy. They called loudly and the
women impatiently, and yet the boy
did not stir, though he was lying Ii
their midst, lying as he had fallen over
during the night.
One of the women shook him, but
still he did not move.
HE must be dead!'' screamed anoth-
er. Run and fetch the apothecary."
The apothecary came over leisurely.
Dead" he said, CONTEMPORARY. II
saw him sleeping quite peacefully when
I passed through the ward"
The boy still lay Just as before but
his breath was coming in fast, short
gasps.
The apothecary dispersed the women
crowding around the lad and had him
removed to a bed. His experienced eye
told him at once that Vishnu was down
with the plague. 1t was not astonish
ing. Later the doctor came; he looked
across, at the apothecary and shook
his head.
"A malignant case he said thought
fully; he was a clever, practical man:
then they discovered the wound on the
leg, and he spoke even more hopelessly
than before.
I'VE must do our best, but it is a
bad case" Both he and the apothecary
had taken a fancy to the boy, who had
worked so cheerfully and bravely in
the ward
The coolies" We're pressed into SER
vice, for it was not easy to procure
ward boys, now that all knew the dan
gers attending the post. They were
wild, half-stupid. sullen-looking crea-
lures, but better than none at all, ana
quite willing to remain for high wages.
All that day and the next ViShnu lay
in a stupor, from which he only reused
on the third evening. Then came wild
delirium, during which he was forever
making hopeless calculations. six
teen days at 20 rupees month, cut
one rupee three annas, twenty days at
IS rupees Cut a day, cut 2 rupees, 70
rupees at sixteen days'-and so it went
on and on all through the long hours.
Toward morning he fell into quiet
sleep, from which he woke almost free
from fever and with his senses clear
When the doctor had been and gone,
and the apothecary alone stood beside
him for minute, Vishnu tried to
speak.
II am all right now-how long have
1 been HIP he asked.
only two or three days; you are
better, but must remain quite STILL.
the other answered.
shall get no wages while am
ill.," he inquired anxiously. hs.
You will get your full wages" way
the reply-the apothecarys answer was
unauthorized, but he spoke as his feel
ings dictated, being a humane man.
That is good" replied Vishnu, turn
ing his face to the wall contentedly.
The long hot hours of the day passed.
Toward evening a breeze sprang up
and blew in at the open door. Pres