Part 19 (1/2)
”Is it necessary that I should take to my berth, Dr. Linscott?” asked the patient. ”I am feeling very nicely now; and since my arm was dressed it gives me very little pain.”
”Dr. Davidson ordered you to your berth because you were so weak you could not stand,” replied the surgeon.
”But I have got over that, and I feel stronger now.”
”We will see about that later, Mr. Pa.s.sford. Captain Breaker, all our wounded except a few light cases, which my mates can treat as well as I can, are disposed of,” added the doctor.
”I am very glad to hear it,” replied the captain.
”May I stay on deck, doctor?” asked Christy, who did not like the idea of being shut up in his stateroom while the arrangements for the disposal of the prize were in progress.
”You may for the present if you feel able to do so,” answered the surgeon. ”But you must have a berth-sack or an easy chair on deck, and keep very quiet.”
”Punch!” called the commander; and this was the name of the cabin steward, who was not, however, as bibulous as his surname indicated.
”Pa.s.s the word for Punch.”
The steward, like everybody else on board able to be there, was on deck, and immediately presented himself.
”Bring up the large easy-chair at my desk, and place it abreast of the mizzen mast,” added the commander.
Something else called off the attention of Captain Breaker at this moment, and the surgeon remained in conversation till Punch reported the chair in position. Dr. Linscott conducted Christy to it, and adjusted him comfortably, sending for a blanket to cover his lower limbs. The captain soon returned, and saw that the patient was easy in a position where he could see all that transpired on the deck.
”As you have finished your duties on board of the Bellevite, I desire to reciprocate the kindness of Captain Rombold in attending to Mr. Pa.s.sford when perhaps he needed the attention of his own surgeon more than our patient, and I desire to have you dress the Confederate commander's wound,” said Captain Breaker.
”With all my heart!” exclaimed the surgeon earnestly. ”I will be with you in a moment, as soon as I procure my material;” and he hurried below.
”You will find me with Captain Rombold,” added the commander, as he hastened to the deck of the prize.
”I am glad to see you again, Captain Breaker,” said the Confederate chief very politely.
”I have come to tender the services of our surgeon, who has disposed of all our seriously injured men, to dress your wound, in the first instance, for I fear you were more in need of such a.s.sistance than my officer when you so magnanimously called Dr. Davidson to dress Mr.
Pa.s.sford's wound. He will be here in a few minutes,” returned Captain Breaker, proceeding to business at once.
”I am exceedingly obliged to you, Captain, for I am beginning to feel the necessity of attending to my wound. The thirty-pounder, which was to have reduced the ranks of your crew by one-half, as I am a.s.sured it would have done, made terrible havoc among my own men. In addition to the dead who have already been committed to the deep, we have a great number wounded,” replied Captain Rombold. ”The c.o.c.kpit is full, and I have given up my cabin to the surgeon, who is extremely busy. I accept the services of Dr. Linscott very gratefully.”
”He is extremely happy to serve you.”
By this time the surgeon of the Bellevite appeared with one of his mates, and some pleasant words pa.s.sed between him and his new patient.
”Now, where is your wound, Captain Rombold?” asked Dr. Linscott.
”In the right thigh,” replied the patient; and the bullet hole in his trousers indicated the precise spot.
”It will be necessary to remove your clothing, Captain,” continued the surgeon.
”My cabin is already turned into a hospital, and Dr. Davidson is hard at work there,” replied the patient. ”I shall have to send for a berth-sack, and let you operate on deck, for”--
”My cabin is entirely at your service, Captain Rombold,” interposed the commander of the Bellevite. ”It will afford me the very greatest pleasure in the world to give it up to you.”