34 OPERATION 



if he were prepared to j)erfonn the operation himself, to 

 which he answered confidently in the affirmative ; his 

 own surgeon at the same time disclaiming all responsi- 

 bility. 



With very little more persuasion the Captain, assured 

 of the self-possession of the man, and the strong nerve 

 denoted in his countenance and manner, at once prepared 

 himself for the knife, which the ojDerator, as it proved, 

 knew well how to use ; for the shattered limb was 

 quickly removed. The patient was preserved from a 

 painful death, and in due time restored to the service, of 

 which he j)roved himself so distinguished a member. 



]\Iy brother continued to tell me that this was the 

 second time only the operation had been attempted, and 

 performed with success ; therefore did the operator get 

 the greater praise, and the fame of it soon re-echoed 

 from the patient's cabin through every man-of-war on 

 the station, and thence through every hospital in London. 



But there was something the Doctor liked better than 

 fame, or his fame might have led on to fortune. He was 

 in the habit of sacrificing largely to Bacchus ; and though 

 the first week he refrained, and Avas careful and par- 

 ticular in his attention to his patient, who would not 

 suffer anyone else to dress the wound ; yet after that 

 time the Doctor frequently showed symptoms of in- 

 dulging in potations pottle-deep, which did not escape 

 the Captain's observation. Nevertheless, with an 

 abnegation and magnanimity which formed part of his 

 noble nature, this gallant officer overlooked from time to 

 time those repeated acts of insubordination — acts that 

 amounted sometimes to incaj^acity of performiug his 



