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 } r ou are the real American 

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

 you sound as a dollar." 



