第59章

"GOOD MAN--GOOD SQUAW"

"That boy is worse, Mrs.Cameron, decidedly worse, and I wash my hands of all responsibility." The old army surgeon was clearly annoyed.

Mandy sat silent, weary with watching and weary with the conflict that had gone on intermittently during the past three days.The doctor was determined to have the gangrenous foot off.That was the simplest solution of the problem before him and the foot would have come off days ago if he had had his way.But the Indian boy had vehemently opposed this proposal."One foot--me go die," was his ultimatum, and through all the fever and delirium this was his continuous refrain.In this determination his nurse supported him, for she could not bring herself to the conviction that amputation was absolutely necessary, and, besides, of all the melancholy and useless driftwood that drives hither and thither with the ebb and flow of human life, she could imagine none more melancholy and more useless than an Indian crippled of a foot.Hence she supported the boy in his ultimatum, "One foot--me go die.""That foot ought to come off," repeated the doctor, beginning the controversy anew."Otherwise the boy will die.""But, doctor," said Mandy wearily, "just think how pitiable, how helpless that boy will be.Death is better.And, besides, I have not quite given up hope that--"The doctor snorted his contempt for her opinion; and only his respect for her as Cameron's wife and for the truly extraordinary powers and gifts in her profession which she had displayed during the past three days held back the wrathful words that were at his lips.It was late in the afternoon and the doctor had given many hours to this case, riding back and forward from the fort every day, but all this he would not have grudged could he have had his way with his patient.

"Well, I have done my best," he said, "and now I must go back to my work.""I know, doctor, I know," pleaded Mandy."You have been most kind and I thank you from my heart." She rose and offered him her hand.

"Don't think me too awfully obstinate, and please forgive me if you do."The doctor took the outstretched hand grudgingly.

"Obstinate!" he exclaimed."Of all the obstinate creatures--""Oh, I am afraid I am.But I don't want to be unreasonable.You see, the boy is so splendidly plucky and such a fine chap."The doctor grunted.

"He is a fine chap, doctor, and I can't bear to have him crippled, and--" She paused abruptly, her lips beginning to quiver.She was near the limit of her endurance.

"You would rather have him dead, eh? All right, if that suits you better it makes no difference to me," said the doctor gruffly, picking up his bag."Good-by.""Doctor, you will come back again to-morrow?""To-morrow? Why should I come back to-morrow? I can do no more--unless you agree to amputation.There is no use coming back to-morrow.I have other cases waiting on me.I can't give all my time to this Indian." The contempt in the doctor's voice for a mere Indian stung her like a whip.On Mandy's cheek, pale with her long vigil, a red flush appeared and in her eye a light that would have warned the doctor had he known her better.

"Is not this Indian a human being?" she asked quietly.

But the doctor was very impatient and anxious to be gone.

"A human being? Yes, of course, a human being, but there are human beings and human beings.But if you mean an Indian is as good as a white man, frankly I don't agree with you.""You have given a great deal of your time, doctor," said Mandy with quiet deliberation, "and I am most grateful.I can ask no more for THIS INDIAN.I only regret that I have been forced to ask so much of your time.Good-by." There was a ring as of steel in her voice.The doctor became at once apologetic.

"What--eh?--I beg your pardon," he stammered.

"It is not at all necessary.Thank you again for all your service.

Good-by."

"Eh? I don't quite--"

"Good-by, doctor, and again thank you."

"Well, you know quite well I can't do any more," said the old doctor crossly.

"No, I don't think you can."

"Eh--what? Well, good-by." And awkwardly the doctor walked away, rather uncertain as to her meaning but with a feeling that he had been dismissed.

"Most impossible person!" he muttered as he left the tent door, indignant with himself that no fitting reply would come to his lips.And not until he had mounted his horse and taken the trail was he able to give full and adequate expression to his feelings, and even then it took him some considerable time to do full justice to himself and to the situation.

Meantime the nurse had turned back to her watch, weary and despairing.In a way that she could not herself understand the Indian boy had awakened her interest and even her affection.His fine stoical courage, his warm and impulsive gratitude excited her admiration and touched her heart.Again arose to her lips a cry that had been like a refrain in her heart for the past three days, "Oh, if only Dr.Martin were here!" Her experience and training under Dr.Martin had made it only too apparent that the old army surgeon was archaic in his practice and method.

"I know something could be done!" she said aloud, as she bent over her patient."If only Dr.Martin were here! Poor boy! Oh! I wish he were here!"As if in answer to her cry there was outside a sound of galloping horses.She ran to the tent door and before her astonished eyes there drew up at her tent Dr.Martin, her sister-in-law and the ever-faithful Smith.

"Oh, oh, Dr.Martin!" she cried, running to him with both hands outstretched, and could say no more.

"Hello, what's up? Say, what the deuce have they been doing to you?" The doctor was quite wrathful.

"Oh, I am glad, that's all."