The Democratic advocate., 1907-06-14

the wound, although he would not guaran
tee to cure the man.
To the doctors surprise, the captain
answered that he had lived in Hongkong,
and knew of the skill of the English doc
tors, and that he would be much gratifed
if Curtin could save the sailor, as the fel-
low was one of his best men.
The medicine case was quickly produced,
and the doctors hands were united. First
ascertaining that the contents Of the case
were undisturbed, he prepared the wounded
arm by pouring little alcohol upon it.
Then he took out his instruments and
quickly performed the operation.
The look of relief that came into the
sufferer face was apparent, but neither
the captain nor the other members of the
pirate crew, who had gathered round to
watch, made any comment. Curtin care
fully dressed and bandaged the wound,
and as soon as he had finished, his hands
were rebound. His patient moved away
without word of thanks or appreciation,
yet the doctor did not neglect to say that
as often as was necessary he would attend
the arm again. He was anxious to make
friend of this Chinaman; for friend,
he felt, would not be bad thing to have
among that barbarous crew.
Shortly after sunset that evening the
Junk reached the mouth of narrow river,
and a quarter of a mile from the entrance
to this stream the sails were lowered and
anchor was dropped. Curtin gathered
from the talk of some of the crew who
stood near him that the junk was to be
taken up this river to an outlaw retreat,
but that they would not enter the narrow
channel until the high tide Of the next
morning.
Not long after the evening meal was
over the pirates began to turn in for the
night. Most of them merely threw them
selves down on the hard deck. By nine
O clock all were asleep, with the exception
of single watchman, whom Curtin could
see strolling back and forth across the
after deck
Hours passed, and as the doctor lay
outstretched on the bare deck, he tried to
work his hands out of the hempen cord
that bound them together behind his back.
He thought that if he could free himself
from his bonds, the watchman might nap,
and thus give him opportunity to slip over
the side of the vessel into the sea and swim
ashore. But he was unable to release his
hands.
Not long after this, the watchman came
forward and silently passed close to Curtin,
and he was rather surprised to see that
the lone guard was no other than the man
whose arm he had lanced that morning.
He wondered idly if the fellow had been
chosen for the post of watchman for the
reason that suffering had rendered him
sleepless.
Then suddenly as he looked up at the
big yellow man, a new idea for escape ger
minated, grew to hazy outline, and in
moment took definite shape in Curtin s
mind.
In his medicine case was vial contain
ing a quantity of a certain very powerful
anesthetic He had told the pirate that
he would dress the wound again when
If OH this excuse he could get
his hands freed and the case in his posses
sion, why would it not be easy to admins
ter few drops of the drug by hypoder-
mic injection, and almost Immediately send
the watchman into coma that would last
for hours-render him unconscious before
he could rebind his captive's hands or
think to make cutlery?
Curtain fully realized the danger at
tendent upon so audacious scheme. But
he felt that as long as he was in the hands
of these ruthless and merciless men his
life was not safe from one hour to the next.
Immediately he hailed the watchman
and asked him about his arm. The tall
pirate paused and replied that it still panied
him considerably. Curtin suggested that
he bring the medicine case and have his
arm treated there in the bright moonlight.
The watchman was slow in answering.
Curtin began to think that the natural
craftiness of his race had counseled him
against the proposition, when with gest-
ure of consent he went to the companion
way and disappeared. In few moments
he came back, carrying the familiar case
in his hand. Then the doctors heart
gave joyous leap.
As soon as his hands were loosened, he
quickly opened the case and took out the
vial he needed and the hypodermic syringe,
He poured into the syringe few drops of
the colorless fluid from the vial. Next,
with hands that trembled with eagerness,
he unwound the bandage from the wounded
arm.
However, the doctor did not hesitate.
He resolutely grasped the proffered arm,
and carefully inserted the needle point OF
the instrument into the flesh so far above
the wound that the powerful drug could
have but little harmful effect upon the ir-
ritated region. Then, with even pressure
upon the plunger he completely emptied
the vial.
He withdrew the syringe, and keeping
strong grip upon his victim arm, began
to replace the bandage.
He worked slowly, methodically, occu-
pying as much time as possible In each
step of the operation. The Chinaman
soon began to show signs of strange, un-
natural drowsiness. His head nodded on
his broad shoulders, his eyes were halt
closed, and he opened them with difficulty.
All at once the doctors yigilant eye saw a
startled, appehensive look fit across the
countenance of the pirate. The next in
slant the man gave half inarticulate cry
and snatched out his sw ord.
Curtin threw up his hand to arrest the
fall Of the blade, but suddenly, in the
twinkliug Of an eye, the Chinaman waver.