“Doctor?” said Staines, with a puzzled look. “Yes; I think they called me doctor once. I'm an attendant in the hospital now.”
“Dick!” cried Phoebe, in no little agitation. “Come here this minute.”
“What, afore I get the horses ashore?”
“Ay, before you do another thing, or say another word. Come here, now.” So he came, and she told him to take a good look at the man. “Now,” said she, “who is that?”
“Blest if I know,” said he.
“What, not know the man who saved your own life! Oh, Dick, what are your eyes worth?”
This discourse brought the few persons within hearing into one band of excited starers.
Dick took a good look, and said, “I'm blest if I don't, though; it is the doctor that cut my throat.”
This strange statement drew forth quite a shout of ejaculations.
“Oh, better breathe through a slit than not at all,” said Dick. “Saved my life with that cut, he did, didn't he, Pheeb?”