In such
cases, the lights--" the surgeon accidentally caught the eye of the
trooper and he paused. Taking two or three hasty puffs, he essayed to
finish the sentence, "In such cases, the knowledge that flows from
the lights--"
"You were saying, sir," said Colonel Wellmere, sipping his wine,--
"The purport of my remark went to say," continued Sitgreaves, turning
his back on Lawton, "that a bread poultice would not set a broken arm."
"More is the pity," cried the trooper, "for next to eating, the
nourishment could not be more innocently applied."
"To you, Colonel Wellmere," said the surgeon, "as a man of education, I
can with safety appeal." The colonel bowed. "You must have observed the
dreadful havoc made in your ranks by the men who were led by this
gentleman"; the colonel looked grave, again; "how, when blows lighted on
their frames, life was invariably extinguished, beyond all hope of
scientific reparation; how certain yawning wounds were inflicted, that
must set at defiance the art of the most experienced practitioner; now,
sir, to you I triumphantly appeal, therefore, to know whether your
detachment would not have been as effectually defeated, if the men had
all lost a right arm, for instance, as if they had all lost
their heads."
"The triumph of your appeal is somewhat hasty, sir," said Wellmere.
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