Part 38 (1/2)

”I don't want to be a soldier if it's to hurt like this,” moaned Arthur piteously. ”Oh, how unlucky I am!”

Mr Temple hesitated for a moment or two longer, thinking of going back and letting a doctor extract the hook; but the next moment his countenance a.s.sumed a determined look, and he said firmly:

”I will not hurt you more than I can help, my boy; but I must get out that hook.”

”No, no, no!” cried Arthur. ”We'll put on a poultice when we get back.”

”Poultice won't suck that out,” growled Josh. ”We often gets hooks in ourselves, sir. Let me do it. I'll have it out in a minute.”

”How?” said Mr Temple as he saw Josh pull out his great jack-knife, at the sight of which Arthur shrieked.

”Oh! I'll show you, sir,” said Josh, ”if he'll give over shouting.”

”No,” said Mr Temple. ”I have a small keen knife here. I can cut it out better than you.”

”Cut it out!” roared Josh, completely drowning Arthur's cry of horror.

”You mustn't cut it out. Here, let Will do it. His fingers is handier than mine.”

”Yes, sir, I can get it out very quickly,” said Will eagerly.

”Do it, then,” said Mr Temple. ”I'll hold him.”

”No, no, no!” shrieked Arthur.

”Be silent, sir,” said his father sternly; and Arthur was cowed by the angry look and words.

”Poor old Taff!” said d.i.c.k to him softly as he held his hand. ”I wish it was in my leg instead;” and the tears stood in his eyes, bespeaking his sincerity as he spoke.

”Give me that old marlinspike, Josh, and your knife,” said Will quickly; and he took the iron bar and great jack-knife that were handed to him.

”My good lad, what are you going to do?” said Mr Temple. ”You must not dig it out with that.”

”Oh, no, sir!” said Will, smiling confidently. ”I'm going to cut the shank in two so as to get rid of the flattened end. Here, you hold his leg on the gunwale. That's it. Pinch the hook with your fingers. I won't cut 'em, sir.”

”I see!” exclaimed Mr Temple quietly; and as Arthur moaned piteously, afraid now more of his father's anger than of the pain, Mr Temple held the injured leg against the side of the boat, pinching the shank of the hook with his fingers.

Will did not hesitate a moment, but placed the edge of the great jack-knife on the soft tinned-iron hook, gave the back of the blade a sharp tap with the iron bar, and cut clean through the shank.

Arthur winced as he watched the descent of the marlinspike, but he was held too tightly by his father for him to move away, had he wished; and this he did not attempt, for fear of greater pain.

What followed was almost like a conjuring trick, it was so quickly done.

For, thrusting Mr Temple's hands on one side, Will seized Arthur's leg with his strong young hands, there was a squeak--at least d.i.c.k said afterwards that it was a squeak, though it sounded like a shrill ”Oh!”

and then Will stood up smiling.

”Don't let him, papa--don't let him!” cried Arthur. ”I could not bear it. He hurt me then horribly! I will not have it out! I'll bear the pain. He shall not do it! He sha'n't touch--”

Arthur stopped, stared, and dragged up the leg of his flannel trousers to examine his leg, where there were two red spots, one of which had a tiny bead of blood oozing from it, but the hook was gone.

”Why--where--where's the hook?” he cried in a querulous tone.