The doctor stopped outright, although he did not speak, and it was some
seconds before he seemed able to move on.
Well, well, he said at last, duty first and pleasure afterwards, as
you might have said yourself, Silver. Let us overhaul these patients of
yours.
A moment afterwards he had entered the block house and with one grim
nod to me proceeded with his work among the sick. He seemed under no
apprehension, though he must have known that his life, among these
treacherous demons, depended on a hair; and he rattled on to his
patients as if he were paying an ordinary professional visit in a quiet
English family. His manner, I suppose, reacted on the men, for they
behaved to him as if nothing had occurred, as if he were still ship s
doctor and they still faithful hands before the mast.
You re doing well, my friend, he said to the fellow with the bandaged
head, and if ever any person had a close shave, it was you; your head
must be as hard as iron. Well, George, how goes it? You re a pretty
colour, certainly; why, your liver, man, is upside down. Did you take
that medicine? Did he take that medicine, men?
Aye, aye, sir, he took it, sure enough, returned Morgan.
Because, you see, since I am mutineers doctor, or prison doctor as I
prefer to call it, says Doctor Livesey in his pleasantest way, I make
it a point of honour not to lose a man for King George (God bless him!)
and the gallows.
The rogues looked at each other but swallowed the home-thrust in
silence.
Dick don t feel well, sir, said one.
Don t he? replied the doctor. Well, step up here, Dick, and let me
see your tongue. No, I should be surprised if he did! The man s tongue
is fit to frighten the French. Another fever.
Ah, there, said Morgan, that comed of sp iling Bibles.
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