"Why does a bath like that feel so good after it's over?" asked Jack. For answer the Doctor gave a little physiological explanation which need not be repeated here. He ended it with this dictum: "For a man or woman or boy in full health, whose heart and lungs are sound, there is no such tonic in the world as a very cold bath on a very cold morning." Then suddenly he called out:
"Why hello, Tom! you didn't bathe, did you?" observing the boy vigorously polishing his back with a sharp Turkish towel.
"Oh, didn't I though. I've done that sort of thing every morning since I was a very little fellow, except when I hadn't the chance to do it."
"But Tom," said the Doctor in much concern, "I'm afraid this was very imprudent. Some of your wounds are still unhealed, and you might take cold in them."
"Why, Doctor, you have just been telling us how a cold morning bath renders it nearly impossible for one to take cold, by reason of the stimulated skin and full circulation."
"Still," answered the Doctor doubtfully, "I didn't mean all that to apply to a fellow who was cut into ribbons by a catamount's claws only a few nights ago. At any rate you mustn't wear those wet bandages, so the other boys will have to get breakfast while I take them all off and replace them with dry ones."
With that he hastily slipped on a scanty covering of clothes and set to work to re-dress Tom's wounds.
"Well bless my soul!" he exclaimed presently.
"What's the matter Doctor? Anything gone wrong with that shoulder?" asked Tom.
"Gone wrong! Well I should say not. I never in my life saw the process of healing advance so rapidly. Why I gave that big scratch two weeks at least to get well in, and if I'm not absolutely blind it is practically healed up already. Bring a light one of you! There, hold it so," and with a strong magnifying glass, the Doctor minutely examined the wounded part. Then he sat back and said: