, 1915-02-11

! +
ing to himself. | felt his heart. which
was beating slowly. but regularly, and.
convinced that he was not dying, ran
down into the after house. The cabin
was empty. Evidently the guard
around the pearl handled revolver had
been given up on the false promise of
peace. All the lights were going,
however. and the heat was suffocat.
ing.
| ran TO Miss Lees door and tried
1t. 1t was locked. but almost instant
ly she spoke from inside:
what is it,"
Nothing much. Can o come outf
She came a moment later, and | ask
ed her to call into each cabin to see If
every one was safe. The result was
reassuring. No one had been disturb
ed. and | was put to 1t to account to
Miss Lee for my anxiety without tell
ing ner what nad nuppeneu. L moe
some sort of excuse which 1 have for
gotten, except that she evidently did
not believe 1t.
" 4 Az hJNhtN Ah'AA oANt "AN
with such implements as | a | clean
ed and dressed the wound. 1t needed
sewing, and 1t seemed best to do II be
fore he regained consciousness. Jones
and Adams went below to the forecas-
tie, therefore, and brought up my am
putating set, which contained, besides
its knives, some curved needles and
surgical silk, still in good condition.
/ opened the case, and before the
knives-the long surgeons knives
which were in use before the scalpel
tering and amazed.
/ did not know that Elsa Lee also
was watching until, having requested
Jones, who had been n sailmaker, to
thread the needles. his trembling hands
refused their duty. | looked up, search.
ing the group for a competent assistant,
and saw the girl. She had dressed,
and the light from the lantern beside
me on the deck threw into relief her
white figure among the dark ones She
came forward as my eyes fell on her.
Let me try" she said, and, kneeling
by the lantern. In a moment she held
out the threaded needle. Her hand
vas quite steady. She made an able
assistant, wiping clean the oozing edges
Of the wound so that l could see to clip
the bleeding vessels and working deity
with the silk and needles to keep me
supplied. My old case yielded also a
roll or so of bandage. by the time
Burns was attempting an inco-ordinate
NV krVn NhN AE-,tEa. .-,-
over and the instruments put out Of
sight.
The operating case with its knives
came in for its share OF scrutiny. and
] felt that an explanation was due the
men. To tell the truth. | had forgot
ten all about the case. Perhaps
swaggered just a bit as I went over
to wash my hands. 1t was my first
opportunity. and / was young. and
the girl was there.
81 see yor looking at my case. boys. :
I said. perhaps I'm a little late ex-
planning, but ! guess after what
you've seen you'll understand. The
case belonged to my grandfather. who
was a surgeon. He was in the war.
That case was at Gettysburg"
They were not 30 impressed as |
had expected-or perhaps they had
known all along. Sailors are a Sc
cretive lot.
I'm thinking well all be getting a
rest soon," a voice said. "What are
you going to do with them knives?"
had an inspiration. am going to
Leave that to you men," I said. "You
may throw them overheard II you
wish; but II you do, take out the nee
dies and the silk. We may need
them"
There followed a savage but re.
strained argument among the men.
Jones from the tent called out irrita.
bly,:
Don't be fools. you fellows. This
happened while Leslie was asleep. I'll
swear he never moved after he lay
down"
The crew reached n decision shortly
after that and came to me in a body.
"We think" Oleson said, that we'll
lock them in the captains cabin with
the ak"
Very we'll" | said. Burns has the
key around his neck"
Clarke, l think 1t was. went into the
tent and came out again directly.
There's no key around his neck"
he said gruffiy.
TT may hnve slipped around under
his back"
1T isn't there at ALL"
CHAPTER xI.