72 THE ARCTIC PRAIRIES 



stand it, and we'll head it up in twenty-four hours; 

 then in three days I'll have you in good shape to 

 travel." The last sentence, delivered with the calm 

 certainty of a man who knows all about it and never 

 made a mistake, did so much good to the patient that 

 I caught a reflex of it myself. 



He gave me his good hand and said with emotion: 

 "You don't know how much good you have done me. 

 I don't mind being killed, but I don't want to go 

 through life a cripple." 



"You say you haven't slept?" I asked. 



"Not for three nights; I've suffered too much." 



"Then take these pills. Go to bed at ten o'clock and 

 take a pill; if this does not put you to sleep, take 

 another at 10.30. If you are still awake at 11, take 

 the third; then you will certainly sleep." 



He went off almost cheerfully. 



Next morning he was back, looking brighter. "Well, 

 I said, "you slept last night, all right." 



"No," he replied, "I didn't; there's opium in those 

 pills, isn't there?" 



"Yes." 



"I thought so. Here they are. I made up my 

 mind I'd see this out in my sober senses, without 

 any drugs." 



"Good for you," I exclaimed in admiration. "They 

 talk about Indian fortitude. If I had given one of 

 those Indians some sleeping pills, he'd have taken them 

 all and asked for more. But you are the real American 

 stuff, the pluck that can't be licked, and I'll soon have 

 you sound as a dollar." 



